The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) Impact Assessment Team from Ghana conducted a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police – Mr. William Fayia Sellu at Police Headquarters in Freetown, on September 9, 2024.
Led by Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas B. Adombire-Akologo, the Deputy Head of Training and Evaluation Development, the team underscored the role of KAIPTC in enhancing the skills of police officers and other law enforcement agencies through courses on security sector reforms, police middle management, human rights, and collaborative policing.
During their visit, they sought to engage with beneficiaries of these training programs to assess the impact on their mindsets and the overall influence on their institutions.
Lieutenant Colonel Adombire-Akologo highlighted that KAIPTC has been instrumental in training law enforcement officers in areas such as peace support operations, security, and conflict management.
He noted that the Centre conducts annual assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of its training and how it benefits trainees in the field, aiming to continually improve future courses.
Emphasizing the importance of tailored training, Lieutenant Colonel Adombire-Akologo mentioned that each year, KAIPTC focuses on four key courses, three of which pertain to policing and security reforms, while also including human rights-related training.
He implored IG Sellu to share insights about the current security situation in Sierra Leone and discuss potential additions to their training programmes.
In response, Inspector General of Police Mr- William Fayia Sellu welcomed the team and expressed his hope for a positive interaction during their stay in Sierra Leone.
He elaborated on the structure of the security sector in the country and the collaborative efforts among various agencies.
“As the Chief Executive of the Sierra Leone Police, I am keenly interested in capacity building for effective service delivery,” he stated. “Transitioning from a force-oriented approach to a service-oriented model is critical. Our recent study tour of the Ghana Police provided valuable insights as we work towards this goal.”
IGP Sellu emphasized the constant need for training, particularly as crime evolves. He stressed the importance of reinforcing the knowledge gained by officers, stating, “What you learn must be reinforced; otherwise, it will become outdated.”
He also highlighted recent successes, mentioning that senior police officers who completed the Senior Strategic Leadership Course at Bintumani, with instructiors from the National Institute of Police Studies in Nigeria, are now equipped to disseminate their learning outcomes to their peers.
The Inspector General urged the KAIPTC team to consider offering additional training programmes on human rights, particularly focusing on middle management and lower-level personnel to enhance their capacities.
As the visit concluded, IG Sellu extended well wishes to the KAIPTC team for a fruitful engagement with alumni of the training programmes. Lieutenant Colonel Adombire-Akologo presented a souvenir to IGP Sellu, and the meeting culminated in a group photo session.
SLP Media Team.
