By Edward Vamboi
A dialogue meeting was held on the 6th July 2021 at the Police Headquarters in Freetown during which a consortium of Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs), including the Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL), Tro`caire, Caritas and Rainbo Initiative, proposed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. Ambrose Michael Sovula, and his Deputy, Madam Elizabeth A Turay, for the Force to have a separate budget for the Family Support Unit (FSU) under the yearly Police budget.
Addressing the Consortium, the Inspector General, Dr Ambrose Michael Sovula informed that the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) budget is tied to their activities such as investigations, operations, administrations and equipments for all units, adding that if he had been asked, he would have loved the Government to allow them, probably, to explain in more detail about their budget strategy for a better understanding of the Ministry of Finance.
The Government, he said, wish to do more for the Police but is facing constraints due to the little availability of resources.
“As a consortium that believes and wants to see more budget for the FSU, we should start the campaign at the pinnacle, using the Top-bottom approach,” Dr Sovula promised.
FSU, he maintained, deals with matters of rape, sexual penetration and gender based violence.
The IGP further made reference to the supply of rice and fuel to the Sierra Leone Police, commodities, he affirmed, are now being provided by the Government even though procurement for same falls under the Police budget.
He said the SLP is not averse to a budget line for the FSU but noted that FSU has nexus with other units like the CID when it comes to investigations into certain matters.
Dr. Sovula, therefore, assured to discuss the proposal with the Police Budget Officer for onward discussion with the Ministry of Finance.
In her contribution, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Madam Elizabeth A. Turay, commended the consortium for demonstrating interest in the FSU of the SLP.
The Unit, she said, is a baby of the IGP whom she disclosed was very passionate about combating SGBV.
The SLP, she went on, has been doing a lot in terms of capacity building for FSU officers.
Earlier, the Executive Director of Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL), Ibrahim Tommy, stated that the consortium over the years has been working with the FSU for justice and accountability.
The purpose of their visit, he said, is to register their campaign in pushing for a budget line for the FSU in the Police budget, disclosing that their campaign was for two reasons, first of which is to put pressure on the Ministry of Finance or the Financial Secretary to release the amount set for FSU to enable the Unit meet its task in the fight against SGBV, and secondly, to know the amount received and spent by the Unit for proper accountability.
Other speakers included Sudie Augustina Sellu from Tro`caire, Eliza G.O.C Sillah from Caritas Freetown and Princess Elliot from Rainbo Initiative.
