By Emma Black
In a significant step toward enhancing professionalism and accountability in Sierra Leone’s security sector, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), 28 July 2025 has launched a two-day training workshop under the theme: Mainstreaming Integrity in the Operations of Law Enforcement Agencies.
Held at the Police Wives Association Multi-Purpose Hall in Kingtom, the workshop brought together representatives from the SLP, Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), Motor Drivers Union, and the Bike Riders Union, the goal: to strengthen ethics, transparency, and institutional trust in agencies that interacts most frequently with the public.
In his welcome address, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Andrew Mustapha Kamara, who also serves as the Director of Training, clarified that the event was not about finger-pointing but about collective self-examination.
We are here to engage in honest dialogue, not to assign blame, AIG Kamara said, we must use this platform to reflect on how we can rebuild public confidence in our institutions.
Delivering the keynote address, commended the SLP for taking the initiative to address internal reform head-on. He acknowledged the ongoing partnership between the ACC and the police, while encouraging law enforcement officers to own the fight against corruption.
It’s not that every police officer is corrupt, commissioner Kaifala clarified, responding to perceptions often highlighted in public surveys, But because the police engage with citizens more than most agencies, their actions good or bad are magnified.
Kaifala further highlighted the challenges that can compromise integrity within the force, such as inadequate salaries and difficult working conditions.
We must also push for better conditions of service, the government is making progress, but structural reforms take time, he noted, he closed with a call to action, urging all law enforcement personnel to hold each other accountable and serve with integrity.
Public trust will not be restored through speeches it will be rebuilt through consistent, ethical conduct on the ground, he stressed.
Representing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sahr Yomba Senessi officially opened the training. He expressed appreciation for the collaboration with the ACC and acknowledged the value of perception surveys as diagnostic tools.
Perception may not be reality, but it reveals how the public experiences our service, DIG Senessi remarked. We must take that seriously and use it to guide our improvement.
He called on all participants to fully engage in the sessions, see the training as a shared opportunity for progress, and continue to foster cooperation among agencies.
The workshop, which spans two days, is focused on officers from both Western Area East and West divisions. It represents a renewed effort by law enforcement agencies to place integrity, service, and public trust at the heart of their operations.
In a society where law enforcement often bears the brunt of public dissatisfaction, this training signals an important shift away from defensive rhetoric and toward proactive reform that prioritizes the rule of law, ethical governance, and citizen dignity.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday,30th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
