Over 90 graduandes of the 5th batch of student Chief Warders and 12th batch of trainees’ chief warders of the National School of Penitentiary Administration, ENAP, have been cautioned against violating the human rights of inmates.

The word of caution was made by the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice in charge of the Penitentiary Administration, Emmanuel Ngafeeson Bantar, while presiding over the graduation ceremony of Chief Warders and trainee Chief Warders at the Buea Independence Square last Friday 9 June.

The Secretary of State, while calling on the gradaunds to use proactive methods as well as public force in the discharge of their duties, admonished the 59 student Chief Warders and Wardresses and 34 trainee Chief Warders of the 5th and 12th batches respectively to observe strict discipline because human lives are at stake. Ngafeeson challenged the graduands to cultivate values of integrity and humanity in their relations with inmates as well as treat prisoners while respecting their human rights as prescribed by the United Nations.

“In no case should you submit them to acts of torture or cruel treatment”, he warned, reminding them that no stone would be left unturned in protecting rights of prisoners.

The Secretary of State in charge of the Penitentiary Administration said the graduation of Chief Warders from ENAP is coming at a time when government has taken a resolute stand to modernise the penitentiary administration by providing sophisticated equipment and better working conditions for personnel and leaving conditions for inmates.

He spelled out the functions of the Chief Warders, adding that their status of forces of law and order imposes on them the need for loyalty and respect for state institutions and therefore can not take part in strike actions. 

Speaking earlier in her welcome address, the Director of ENAP Buea, Administrator General of Prison, Fonkem Nee Fofung Manyi Immaculate, congratulated the graduands for demonstrating what she termed acceptable degree of responsibility during their stay at the training centre, but called on them to uphold their mission of maintenance of law and order in prisons and the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners as advocated by the United Nations. The Director however expressed optimism that with the level of military, physical and theoretical training in the domain of Social and Penitentiary Sciences coupled with professional internship, the student chief Warders and the Trainees Chief Warders would be up to the task.

However, the Director enumerated s series of difficulties that hamper smooth training at the penitentiary institution some of which include lack of modern classrooms and dormitories, sports infrastructure, transport facilities, special status for teaching and administrative staff amongst others.

The best ten students of Chief Warders and Trainees Chief Warders received their epaulets and Diplomas from the hands of the dignitaries present at the ceremony while the rest were handed their Diplomas in school. The graduation ceremony of the 5th batch of students’ chief warders and 12th batch of Trainees Chief Warders after 18 and six months of intensive training respectively was crowned by a colourful military match past.