In a bid to bolster the operational effectiveness of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), fifty senior police commanders were certified after completing an intensive week-long course in strategic leadership and management. The certification ceremony took place at the Bintumani Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown, marking a significant milestone in the SLP’s ongoing efforts to enhance service delivery across the country.

Inspector General of Police, Mr. William Fayia Sellu, who presided over the event, expressed confidence that the training had equipped the commanders with essential skills to enhance their operational roles. He emphasized that the primary goal of the course was to improve the SLP’s overall efficiency, stating, “These commanders are now better prepared than they were before the course.”

IG Sellu highlighted the importance of commitment to their roles, drawing a parallel between keeping promises and effective leadership. “When you make a promise and follow through, you embody three key habits of effectiveness: the habit of choice, the habit of vision, and the habit of execution,” he noted, adding that the commanders’ progress would be closely monitored based on their commitments.

The Chief Executive of the Police urged the commanders to continuously reflect on their pledges and foster discussions about them, stressing the need for collaboration in addressing challenges within their respective regions and departments. He called for a “win-win” approach within the SLP, asserting, “You can achieve success without undermining others; your happiness should not come at the expense of another’s sorrow.”

Professor Francis Olugunsakin, Director General of the National Institute of Police Studies (NIPS) and Lead Facilitator of the course, lauded the commanders for their impressive performances during the training. He expressed optimism about their potential for success in their respective roles.

The ceremony, which also featured remarks from Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Sahr Yomba Senesie and Barrister Sulaiman, concluded with the distribution of certificates to the fifty participants. The event underscored the SLP’s commitment to enhancing leadership within the force and improving service delivery across Sierra Leone.