LocationsOne year after a learning visit to Ghana
From Force to Service: how UNDP is supporting Police transition in Sierra Leone
September 23, 2025
A group photo of the Sierra Leone Delegtaion and their Ghanaian counterparts
UNDP Ghana
One year ago, a high-level delegation from Sierra Leone travelled to Accra, Ghana, on a mission to enhance justice and security service delivery. Supported by UNDP, the delegation included UNDP Resident Representative Fredrick Hans Ampiah, Minister of Internal Affairs, Major General David Taluva (Rtd.) , the then Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, and Sierra Leone’s Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu. Their goal was to learn first-hand from the Ghana Police Service how a police institution can evolve from a Force into a Service: modern, accountable, professional and trusted by the people it serves.
The Learning visit was part of Sierra Leone’s Security and Justice Sector Reform and became a turning point for the officers. In Ghana, they saw a Police Service that didn’t just enforce the law but listened, cared, and worked with the community.
A year of progress
Since that exchange, reforms have gained momentum. The review of the 1964 Police Act to reflect modern realities and transition in to a Police Service was led by the Legal Reform Commission. A new Strategic Development Plan (2025–2029) of the Sierra Leone Police now guides the institution’s future, setting a clear roadmap for reform and growth.
Community engagement has become a cornerstone of this transition. Local Unit Commanders are spending more time in neighborhoods, attending meetings, listening to residents, and working alongside them to solve problems.
At the same time, UNDP has supported practical changes that touch people’s daily lives. In Aberdeen, actualisation of a Model Police Station is underway, designed to embody professionalism, transparency, and accessibility. The police garment factory is in the process of being operationalized to produce uniforms locally, and a bus service system will be reintroduced to improve officers’ welfare. Work has also begun to digitize personnel records, making human resource management more efficient and transparent.
Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu emphasized the vision behind these reforms,
“We are transitioning to a service-oriented approach in policing, focusing on meeting the needs of the community. I believe the time has come for us to embrace a model that prioritizes the community in our efforts to fight crime and ensure public safety, as a secure environment is foundational for development.”
Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu , taking a salute at a Parade of Honour by the Ghana Police
UNDP Ghana
UNDP's Catalytic Role in Police Reform
This transition is the product of close collaboration between the Government, the Sierra Leone Police, and development partners, with UNDP playing a catalytic role.
UNDP's support has been focused on three key areas: helping to modernize laws and policies, strengthening community-based policing, and improving professionalism and accountability through better communication and transparency. The recent study visit to Ghana, which connected both countries to share practical lessons, perfectly reflects UNDP's approach to South–South cooperation, further demonstrating the shared bond between Sierra Leone and Ghana.
UNDP Resident Representative, Fredrick Hans Ampiah explains,
“Strong institutions are the backbone of sustainable development. By supporting the transition of the Sierra Leone Police to be a more people-centred Service, UNDP is helping to build trust between communities and those who protect them. When trust grows, societies become safer, more inclusive, more resilient and better positioned to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Fredrick Hans Ampiah, Resident Representative , UNDP Sierra Leone
UNDP Ghana
Looking ahead
The path to transition has not been without challenges. Financial constraints limit progress, competing national priorities affect resources, and legislative processes can be slow. Capacity gaps remain in areas such as digital policing, gender responsiveness, and modern investigative methods.
But with continued Government commitment and UNDP’s partnership, Sierra Leone is steadily moving toward a policing model that is rooted in trust, partnership, and service.
For Sierra Leone, the transition from a Police Force to a Police Service is more than institutional reform, it is about redefining the relationship between the people and the state to strengthen security service delivery.
Sierra Leone’s story shows how peace and security go hand in hand. With strong leadership within the Police and UNDP’s support, the country is proving that policing can evolve into a model of service, one rooted in cooperation, dignity, and people’s everyday needs.
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