Sa Leone delegation in Ghana to understudy police reforms
A high-level government delegation from Sierra Leone is currently in Ghana to understudy the Ghana Police Service as part of a strategic initiative to transition the Sierra Leone Police Force into a Police Service.
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The visit aims to explore Ghana’s successful transition from a Police Force to a Police Service, with a particular focus on understanding how Ghana's Ministry of the Interior collaborates with its agencies to maintain law and order and strengthen public trust in the police.
The delegation, co-led by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Major General (Rtd.) David Taluva, and Resident Representative of UNDP Sierra Leone, Fredrick Ampiah, is participating in a learning exchange facilitated by UNDP Sierra Leone under its Inclusive Democratic Governance Portfolio.
Other members of the delegation are the Deputy Minister for Justice, the Inspector-General of Police, William Fayia Sellu., some Police Commissioners, and officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the UNDP.
So far, the delegation has held separate meetings with the Minister of the Interior, Henry Quartey; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, as well as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare.
During a visit to the Ministry of the Interior, Mr Quartey reiterated the government’s commitment to retooling the security services to effectively play their roles by safeguarding the security of the country both internally and externally.
He also said Ghana was ready and willing to share experiences and collaborate with neighbours within the West African sub region, to enhance regional security.
“We are ready to collaborate with Sierra Leone and share our experiences to strengthen our bilateral relations and enhance regional security,” Mr Quartey emphasised.
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Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Taluva stated that the police reforms in Sierra Leone were necessary to stabilise the country to attract more investors to improve the economy, as well as enhance its development.
He thanked their hosts for sharing valuable insights on their successful transition from a Police Force to a Service, highlighting the benefits of a people-centric approach.
“This shift from Force to Service brings the police closer to the community, prioritising service over enforcement,” he noted.
He commended Ghana’s security authorities for their continuous training support to the Sierra Leone security services, of which he was a beneficiary as a former soldier.
The discussions with Mr Yeboah Dame focused on broader issues related to justice and security sector reforms.
Parade of Honour
At the Police Headquarters, a Guard of Honour was organised for the visiting IGP, after which, the delegation held further discussions with Dr Akuffo Dampare and the Police Management Board.
Mr Sellu hailed the visit to Ghana as a key moment in their reform journey.
"Our meetings in Ghana provided invaluable insights, charting a clear roadmap for our transformation from a police force to a service. We are excited to embark on this process, and Ghana's experience has shown us the way forward.
We're now equipped to initiate a successful transition in our country, thanks to Ghana's guidance.
“We want a police service that will concentrate on serving the people of Sierra Leone, making them safe, protecting their properties and building that confidence in the country to give the government a friendly atmosphere to achieve its vision for the people,” the Sierra Leone IGP said.
UNDP support
The Resident Representative of UNDP Sierra Leone explained the UNDP’s support to the Sierra Leone Police Force, which falls under its governance portfolio focusing on policing, peace and security.
He explained that the learning visit was inspired by a similar initiative UNDP undertook in Ghana 20 years ago, which successfully helped the Ghana Police Force transition into a Police Service.
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He gave the assurance that the Sierra Leone team was committed to applying the lessons learned from this exchange to inform ongoing police service reforms in Sierra Leone.
