By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), has concluded a two-day strategic communication workshop designed to strengthen the capacity of police media officers as the SLP transitions from a force to a service.
The training, which ran from 29–30 September 2025 in Freetown, brought together media and information officers from across the country. Participants were equipped with practical skills to design, implement, and disseminate effective communication strategies that reflect the SLP’s reform agenda.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sahr Yomba Senesi, addressed the closing session, urging participants to apply the knowledge gained to strengthen the institution’s outreach and engagement with the public. He underscored that the success of the force-to-service transition depends heavily on the ability of the SLP’s media team to communicate change, values, and reforms clearly and consistently.
“Media officers are not only messengers of information; they are at the heart of building trust and credibility for the new Sierra Leone Police service. The transformation will only be meaningful if our people understand it, believe in it, and support it. You are central to achieving that goal,” Senesi said.
Representing UNDP, Madam Bola Adebola reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s security sector reforms. She explained that strengthening the communication capacity of the SLP is critical to ensuring that communities better understand and embrace the vision of a people-centered police service.
“This workshop is part of UNDP’s broader commitment to governance and institutional strengthening in Sierra Leone. Communication is vital for building transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the police. We are proud to stand with the SLP and SLAJ in advancing this transformation,” Madam Adebola noted.
Also present was the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Mr. Alhaji Manika Kamara, who described the workshop as a timely and forward-looking initiative. He emphasized that effective communication between the police and the public will not only enhance service delivery but also improve media–police relations.
“Journalists are key partners in this process. A well-trained police media unit will help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the people they serve. It will also promote openness and accountability. SLAJ will continue to support initiatives that strengthen this partnership,” Kamara stated.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Director of Corporate Affairs, AIG Esther Mary Kaintor Dukuray, commended the participants for their engagement and urged them to remain consistent in their messaging. She highlighted that public trust is essential to policing in a democratic society, and effective communication is the tool for building and sustaining that trust.
“The people of Sierra Leone must see us not as a force but as a service. This requires a united effort from all our media officers to project the image of a responsive, reliable, and people-centred police service,” AIG Dukuray remarked.
The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to improve police–community engagement and to support the institutional reforms envisioned under the SLP’s transition programme. By building the communication capacity of its media officers, the SLP aims to ensure that the transformation is not only structural but also well understood and embraced by the public.
As Sierra Leone prepares for the future of policing, stakeholders expressed optimism that a strengthened communication framework will be vital in deepening trust, improving accountability, and cementing the vision of a professional and service-oriented Sierra Leone Police.
