Police Headquarters, George Street Freetown, Monday 9th October, 2023- With several other ongoing trainings in capacity building, both at National and International levels, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. William Fayia Sellu has received a six-man team from the Attorney General Alliance-Africa Programme (AGA-Africa) who are in the country to offer a three days training on cybercrimes and digital evidence to forty (40) personnel.
Welcoming the team to Sierra Leone and his office, the Police Chief thanked them for coming to support the SLP.
According to the IGP, such key intervention is very timely, noting the occupying of cyberspace by wrong people, posing threats and challenges.
The SLP, he said was therefore finding ways to overcome these challenges.
“I am happy the training has materialised after my discussions with a member of this team” he said and expressed hope of maintaining the goodwill gesture for the fact that they thought about coming to help Sierra Leone in capacity building and development.
The SLP he said has cyber labs at its six Regional Headquarters apart from the one at CID Headquarters but stated that it was about skills and how you are capacitated to do what you want to do.
“I look at this one as a perfect opportunity for the SLP to come off age in terms of cyber security,” the Police Chief said.
Head of the team who doubles as the International Advisor AGA-Africa, John Edozie, also expressed pleasure in representing the association in embarking on a new which marks the establishment of a partnership with the SLP and hope that the occasion would be the beginning of a fruitful partnership dedicated to fostering peace, security and adherence to the rule of law in Sierra Leone.
As a non-profit organisation, the AGA-Africa programme Mr Edozie disclosed is committed to tackling transnational organised crimes such as Human Trafficking, Money Laundering, Counterfeit Drugs, and Wildlife Trafficking among other cross-border crimes that plague the African Continent.
“Through our efforts, we work with local partners to enhance their capacity to not only dismantle these threats but to reinforce the rule of law and good governance” said Mr. Edozie noting that they currently in ten (10) African countries including Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Sierra Leone.
He however clarified that that despite their name, they operate independently from any member’s country Attorney General’s Office but nevertheless count several Attorney General’s offices as important along with prosecutors, the Judiciary, the Police and law enforcement, bar associations, the government, Non-governmental organisations and the private sector.
Through these collaborations, he said they aim to establish a platform for the exchange of expertise, skills and technical support, whilst providing international, regional and national subject matter experts that can facilitate a continuous learning process, thereby enhancing access to justice.
He went on to say that in their partnership, they tasked themselves with identifying both the strengths and vulnerabilities of their partners in ensuring that they provide them with tailored interventions.
Their achievements he also disclosed include involvement in conducting election preparedness workshops alongside the Judiciary in Kenya and Sierra Leone among others.
Their visit he therefore said is a significant step towards building trust and understanding between the organisations, learn about the needs of the SLP, challenges and aspirations and to share their vision for the partnership.
He believes that together, they enhance law enforcement practices contributing to the SLP mission of ensuring peace, safety and security in this great nation.
Other members of the team include Chukure Unamba ‘Oparah, Herbert Yankson, Alex Osonga and Davies Chimata
