Sierra Leone Police Set to Transition into a Service Under IGP Sellu’s Visionary Leadership

By Esther Wright

In a move inspired by Ghana’s successful transition from a “police force” to a “police service,” the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Sierra Leone, William Fayia Sellu, has revealed plans to transform the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) into a service-oriented institution. To advance this initiative, IGP Sellu is actively seeking strategic partnerships and collaborations.

This vision took a significant step forward on February 26, 2024, when Fayia Sellu held discussions with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Frederick Ampiah, at Police Headquarters. Their meeting explored the possibility of replicating Ghana’s transition model, with Mr. Ampiah bringing valuable insights from his involvement in Ghana’s reform.

Building on these discussions, a high-level delegation led by the UNDP embarked on an exploratory visit to Ghana on August 12, 2024. The delegation included IGP Sellu, Minister of Internal Affairs Major General (Rtd) David Taluva, Deputy Minister of Justice Hon. Alpha Sesay Esq., Director of Policy in the Ministry of Internal Affairs  Mohamed G. Yoki Esq., Regional Commander for Freetown-West AIG Sylvester Koroma, Acting Director of Corporate Affairs ACP Esther Kaintor-Dukuray and Head of Media, Public Relations, and Sports ACP Brima Kamara. The primary goal of the visit was to learn from Ghana’s experience in transitioning to a police service.

Upon their arrival at the Ghana Police Service Headquarters, the Sierra Leone delegation was warmly received by the Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, who provided a detailed briefing on the reform processes. The delegation engaged with key stakeholders over three days to gain comprehensive insights into the transition. Speaking to the media at the end of the visit, IGP Sellu confirmed that both the Sierra Leonean Government and its strategic partners remain fully committed to supporting the transition, with the UNDP playing a crucial coordinating role.

Key outcomes from the visit included:

1. The establishment of a technical working group to steer the transition.
2. The development of a clear roadmap for the transformation.
3. The shift from strategic planning to operational execution.
4. Enhanced inter-agency collaboration.
5. Institutionalized partnerships leading to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
6. The formation of a bilateral partnership with the Ghana Police Service.

IGP Sellu expressed confidence that the shared history and similar contexts between Ghana and Sierra Leone make the lessons learned highly relevant. He noted that the visit provided both practical insights and a concrete roadmap for guiding Sierra Leone’s own transition from a “police force” to a “police service.”