The exercise took place over the weekend.
The nine persons were among 24 others from several prison facilities around the country -- Zwedru, Buchanan, Harper, Kakata, Bondiway, Gbarnga, Sanniquellie, Tubmanburg, Robertsport and Monrovia Central Prisons.
According to the MOJ, the training was a three-phase program, where 15 officers undertook the basic training of trainers and advanced training of trainers course, while nine others undertook the trainers’ certification course.
The training, which was funded by UNMIL’s Quick Impact Project, is said to have cost US$24,210. Assistant Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation, Mr. Hilary Siakor-Sirleaf, expressed his appreciation for the training.
“This project will go a long way in building the capacity of the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation in line with its strategic plan,” he said.
Each of the nine trainers walk away with a package of training materials that will enable them to conduct in-service training at their respective facilities for one year.
The training was conducted by UNMIL’s Training and Development Manager, David Macharia.
Macharia told the Daily Observer in an interview that the period of three weeks was enough to fully train the nine participants as correction officers’ trainers anywhere around the world.
The officers were Chrispin Doe, from the Harper, Maryland Central Prison; Famata Bokarie, from the Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount Central Prison; Patience Getrude Tarpeh from the Kakata, Margibi Central Prison; Wesley Dopayne from the Bondiway, Grand Bassa County Central Prison; Moses Karnee, Jr. and Alfred Jellu from the Zwedru, Grand Gedeh Central Prison.
Others were Rachel Nathan from the Monrovia Central Prison; Peterson Kollie, Gbarnga, Bong Central Prison; and Nathaniel Zuah from the Sanniquellie, Nimba Central Prison.
The officer from Margibi County Central Prison, Patience Getrude Tarpeh, told the Daily Observer that the three-week training has made her a “capable trainer of corrections officers anywhere in the world.”
She, like her colleagues, stated that upon their return to their respective areas of assignment, they will assemble their staff and conduct in-house training.
Tarphe promised on behalf of her colleagues to use the materials given to each of them for their inteded purposes.
