A high-level government delegation from Sierra Leone, co-led by Major General (Rtd.) David Taluva, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Fredrick Ampiah, UNDP Resident Representative, is in Ghana for a learning exchange on police reforms.

Hosted by the Ghanaian government, the visit is facilitated by UNDP Sierra Leone as part of its Inclusive Democratic Governance Portfolio, aiming to learn best practices and insights on transforming the police force into a service-oriented institution.

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 has held meetings with the Ministers of the Interior, Henry Quartey, and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame.

According to Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Major General (Rtd.) David Taluva, the Police reforms are necessary to stabilize the country in order to attract more investors to improve the economy and enhance its development.

“We want a police service that will concentrate on serving the people of Sierra Leone, making them safe, protecting their property and building that confidence in the country to give government a friendly atmosphere to achieve its vision for the people”, he said.

He commended the 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.

He thanked Ghanaian counterparts 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.

During a visit to the Minister of Interior, Henry Quartey reiterated the government’s commitment to retooling the security services and collaboration. “We are ready to collaborate with Sierra Leone and share our experiences to strengthen our bilateral relations and enhance regional security,” he emphasised.

The Sierra Leonean delegation also held discussions with Ghana's Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, focusing on broader issues related to justice and security sector reforms.

Sierra Leone's Inspector-General of Police, Mr. William Fayia Sellu, hailed the visit to Ghana as a key moment in their reform journey.

He stated, "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.”

Fredrick Ampiah, Resident Representative of UNDP Sierra Leone, explained the UNDP’s support to the Sierra Leone Police Force, which falls 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.

As part of the visit to the Ghana National Police Headquarters, a Guard of Honour Parade was organised for the Inspector-General of Police of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mr. William Fayia Sellu. After which, the delegation held further discussions  Ghana's Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, and the Police Management Board.

The Sierra Leonean team, which includes the Deputy Minister for Justice, the Inspector-General of Police, Police Commissioners, and officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and UNDP, is committed to applying the lessons learned from this exchange to inform ongoing police service reforms in Sierra Leone.