In a significant stride forward for national security and institutional modernization, the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, in his capacity as Chairman of the Police Council, officially commissioned the newly constructed Freetown East Regional Police Headquarters on Friday, 30th January 2026. The ceremony served as a powerful testament to the Government’s sustained dedication to fortifying the nation’s security architecture and elevating the standard of service delivery within the Sierra Leone Police force. The event attracted a distinguished gathering of national figures, including the Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, the senior leadership echelon of the police, key representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, respected traditional leaders, and enthusiastic members of the local community, all witnessing a pivotal moment in the country’s ongoing security sector reform agenda.
In his keynote address, Vice President, Dr. Jalloh, commended the Sierra Leone Police for their unwavering professionalism and steadfast commitment to preserving peace and public order across the nation. He articulated that the impressive new headquarters stands as a concrete and tangible manifestation of the Government’s determination to provide law enforcement agencies with the necessary modern infrastructure and tools to confront contemporary security challenges effectively. “The commissioning of this facility transcends the mere erection of a building; it is fundamentally about empowering and enhancing the capacity of the Sierra Leone Police to serve our citizens with greater efficiency, responsiveness, and professionalism,” the Vice President declared. He further elaborated that well-resourced and strategically designed police installations are crucial catalysts for improving operational coordination, drastically reducing response times to incidents, and fostering a deeper, more resilient sense of public trust in law enforcement institutions.
Expanding on his role as Chairman of the Police Council, Dr. Jalloh reaffirmed his personal commitment to championing reforms that embed a culture of accountability, discipline, and community-centred policing within the force. He addressed the officers slated for deployment to the Freetown East Region, urging them to view the new headquarters not merely as a workplace, but as a profound symbol of renewed responsibility. He charged them to uphold the rule of law with impartiality and to protect the lives and property of all citizens diligently and without fear or favour.
This sentiment was echoed by David Fortune, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who reaffirmed the Ministry’s role in providing robust oversight and supervision to ensure the police force operates at its peak potential. He praised the police leadership for their consistent role in safeguarding national stability, and assured them of the Government’s continued support for all initiatives aimed at boosting institutional performance and reinforcing a professional ethos.
Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, in his remarks, conveyed the force’s profound gratitude to His Excellency the President and the Police Council, under the chairmanship of the Vice President, for their unwavering and essential support. The IGP provided insight into the practical impact of the new headquarters, explaining that it would revolutionize administrative efficiency, operational planning, and overall service delivery within the Freetown East Region, an area renowned as one of the busiest and most dynamic policing zones in the capital. He cautioned, however, that the state-of-the-art infrastructure must be matched by an equally high standard of personal conduct from every officer. IGP Sellu emphasised that true public confidence is built through a combination of ethical behaviour, unwavering integrity, and meaningful, respectful engagement with the communities they serve, asserting that the physical structure alone, while critical, is only one part of the equation.
The ceremony was preceded by a warm welcome address from the Freetown East Regional Commander, Brima Kanneh, who described the day as a historic and transformative milestone for policing in the region. Commander Kanneh pledged to the Vice President and all stakeholders that the facility would be managed with the utmost responsibility, ensuring it becomes a hub for efficiency, professionalism, and effective community-focused policing, perfectly aligned with the broader vision of the Sierra Leone Police. The formal proceedings reached their climax with the ceremonial cutting of the tape and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, an act that formally transferred the facility to the force. This was followed by an extensive guided tour of the modern offices, operational rooms, and support facilities within the headquarters. The commissioning unequivocally marks the dawn of a new chapter for the Freetown East Regional Command, significantly bolstering its operational capacity and, in a broader sense, powerfully reinforcing the Government’s unwavering commitment to fostering a secure, stable, and peaceful Sierra Leone for all its citizens. The commissioning officially marks a new chapter in strengthening the operational capacity of the Freetown East Regional Command and reinforces the Government’s commitment to a secure and peaceful Sierra Leone.