(Freetown, Sierra Leone – October 10, 2024) Major General Richard Addo Gyane, Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), paid a courtesy visit to Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu. The visit took place at the IGP’s office in Freetown and was accompanied by a team led by the Director of Training, AIG Sahr Y. Senesie.
General Gyane’s visit is part of his ongoing efforts to promote international cooperation in West Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone. He is in the country to attend the closing ceremony of a Child Protection Course for law enforcement officials, held at the Freetown International Conference Centre at Bintumani. During the meeting, he discussed future training opportunities for the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) with IGP Sellu.
Expressing greetings from the people of Ghana and the KAIPTC management, General Gyane highlighted the Center’s significant contributions to police training in Sierra Leone, emphasizing past initiatives such as training officers on election violence management. He noted that the KAIPTC would soon celebrate its 20 years of excellence in service delivery and expressed intentions to launch the KAIPTC Alumni Chapter in Sierra Leone, thereby giving the country a stronger voice within the organization.
General Gyane underlined that KAIPTC offers a diverse range of training programs that have benefited numerous African nations, often more so than Ghanaians themselves. He indicated a desire for the establishment of a course director position in Sierra Leone to further enhance the training framework.
IGP Sellu warmly welcomed General Gyane to Sierra Leone, expressing his appreciation for the ongoing support that KAIPTC has provided to the SLP. He acknowledged the center’s role in building the capacity of Sierra Leone’s police force, particularly in light of the shared colonial history among Ghana, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone.
Reflecting on his two-year tenure, IGP Sellu pointed out the critical need for continued training to bridge knowledge gaps within the police force, which he identified as essential for effective service delivery. He mentioned a recent study tour to Ghana to explore the Ghana Police model, with aspirations of transitioning the SLP from a force to a service supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
IGP Sellu reiterated the significance of human capacity development, aligning it with one of the “big five” game changers set forth by His Excellency Brigadier (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio. The Inspector General expressed strong support for the creation of the KAIPTC Alumni Chapter in Sierra Leone, emphasizing the importance of knowledge-sharing among police officers trained at the KAIPTC.
The visit culminated in the presentation of a KAIPTC souvenir to IGP Sellu, symbolizing General Gyane’s commitment to enhancing police training in Sierra Leone in the future.
Credit: SLP Media Team