By: Nyima Sillah & Mama A Touray
At least 30 Gambian police officers have been trained by DCAF Geneva Centre for Security Sector Reform Banjul office on security sector reform. The training session was held at NANA hall in Kanifing.
The European Union funded programme aimed to supporting the Gambia Security Sector Reform in enhancing its external oversight by state and none state actors.
Speaking at the training, EU Ambassador to The Gambia, H.E. Corrado Pampaloni, said: “the project is organized along to mean lines of interventions firstly supporting the Government in its effort to launch a deep and inclusive security sector reform process. For the police, it wishes to improve efficiency effectiveness, accountability of the GPA strength Gambia management and command processes and the grate internal and external oversight of the police force.”
With believe, he said this is the moment for transformational change for the security sector in the Gambia and if the country manage to transform an abusive security system into that respect and protects human right of its population, they can call the Gambia transition a success story.
He continued: “As police officers you must be able to navigate and negotiate through this contenting interest with fairness and impartiality and above all you are facilitators of democracy,” he reminded them.
Momodou Sowe, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) used the opportunity to thank the DCAF Gambia office for not only supporting the formation of the technical working groups but also for facilitating many of such capacity building programs for the GPF over the past two years as part of the Security Sector Reform Process and capacity building engagements.
He as well thanked the EU for providing the funding and all other logistics needed for the successful implementation of these projects.”
Meanwhile, Ken Isaac, head of DCAF, Gambia office, said that from the positive feedback received, the benefits of attending this course have put more informed position to provide an enhanced service to the public in dealing with crisis management.
Superintendent Gass Sabally, who spoke on behalf of the trainees said as elections is fast approaching receiving training on crises management and critical incident response will enhance their effective efficient service delivery to the public.
“We promise that the knowledge received will be shared with those who were not fortunate to be here,” the Superintendent pledged.