By: Mohamed M. Sesay
With support from the United States Embassy here in Sierra Leone, the Inspector General of Police Williams Fayia Sellu has on Friday the 18th of November 2022, certified seventy-two Senior Police Officers after the successful completion of a two-week training on the Strategic Capacity Group Project on Election Security Management ahead of June 2023 Elections.
In his keynote address, the Inspector General of Police elucidated that the two weeks of training of trainers is basically to prepare the Sierra Leone Police for effective policing of the 2023 general elections. He expressed that the training has very good content which would be cascaded among the rank and files of the Sierra Leone Police in terms of capacity building towards the 2023 general elections. He disclosed that Senior Police Officers drawn from different departments were the first set of beneficiaries adding that, the just trained senior officers would now serve as trainers to train others on the Strategic Capacity Group Project on Election Security Management.
IG Fayia Sellu also disclosed that seventy-two personnel were the first set of beneficiaries and also expressed undying hope and optimism that the training would be cascaded across the country. He considered the first batch as master trainers as they would be training other senior personnel in various departments within the Sierra Leone Police.
He continued that within the shortest time of his appointment as the Inspector General of Police, he has facilitated the conduct of ten pieces of training for the Sierra Leone Police. “My focus is to provide more training for the Sierra Leone Police to close the gap in the institution. Some personnel have been promoted from one rank to another and we need to prepare them in ensuring that they function well in their various capacities”, he said.
IG Fayia Sellu overwhelmingly stressed the importance of the training to the Sierra Leone Police as the training would capacitate the Sierra Leone Police to effectively police the 2023 general elections. He also intimated that the t training has a laudable module package which would benefit the Sierra Leone Police for a very long time. He revealed that the unique difference between the just concluded training to other pieces of training is that, the module designed for this particular training is gorgeous enough that it would be used not only for elections management but also for onward capacity building for the Sierra Leone Police.
He assured his personnel that several other capacity-building pieces of training are lined up for the Sierra Leone Police. IG Fayia Sellu also appealed to the American Embassy to cascade such training to other sister forces such as the military for effective collaboration in terms of election security management. He concluded by expressing profound thanks and appreciation to the American Embassy for providing such training for the Sierra Leone Police.
Paul Stucky, the Political Adviser at the United States Embassy here in Sierra Leone, said elections like the June 2023 general elections of Sierra Leone, are critical reflection points for all democracies. He said it is very important to recognize not just events that happen on polling day but processes leading to the polling day which the Sierra Leone Police has a critical role to play in ensuring that the elections are free, fair and peaceful. He, therefore, added that the training would enhance the personal safety of the Sierra Leone Police in dealing with electoral threats in a stable manner and also protecting human rights.
He said the training which encompasses the training manual guides is an ongoing mentorship for the Sierra Leone Police which would continue to increase adequate trust for the Sierra Leone Police Force during and after the June 2023 elections. He assured that the training provides technical protection in the election management system. He concluded by reassuring that the just concluded training strengthens the already bilateral relationship between the two countries and also demonstrates the United States Government’s effort to help strengthen security and democracy in Sierra Leone.
