Fellow Officers, Men, and Women of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), as we reflect on the year 2024, I want to begin by congratulating each and every one of you for the remarkable progress we have made together. Through our collective efforts, we have fostered a secure and peaceful environment, contributing significantly to the stability and development of our beloved nation. I am confident that we will continue to build on this foundation and remain steadfast in delivering effective and satisfactory service, especially as we transition from a Force to a Service.
The year 2024 presented us with both internal and global security challenges, including organized crimes such as subversion, terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and cybercrime. Despite these obstacles, we have successfully upheld our mandate.
Our efforts extend beyond national borders. As part of our commitment to global peace and security, during 2024, we deployed 13 Individual Police Officers (IPOs) to the peace mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) whilst another set of 81 IPOs were processed and cleared, waiting for deployment. Additionally, we have prepared FPU 6 for deployment while FPU 5 will soon be rotated.
We remain grateful to His Excellency, President Brig. (Rtd) Dr. Julius Maada Bio, and his government for their unwavering support throughout the year.
As Management, we recognize the importance of addressing your welfare needs, including accommodation, healthcare, uniforms, and salaries. We are working tirelessly to improve these conditions. Despite competing national priorities, we are collaborating with the Government to undertake some projects. The government through Public Private Partnership (PPP) has approved the construction of new barracks accommodation at York with essential social amenities which will house 70 personnel.
New uniforms will soon be distributed to all personnel. Additionally, the SLP Garment Factory in Kingtom will be restructured to become the sole supplier of SLP uniforms, ensuring both regular and additional uniforms are available to personnel under the SLP Revenue Generation scheme. Efforts are also underway to decentralize and enhance medical services, as well as improve the bus service system for personnel.
We are aware that personnel promoted in 2021 have yet to receive the corresponding salary adjustments. Management is working with the Ministry of Finance to resolve this issue in the coming year. Furthermore, 1,194 personnel benefitted from various local training programs whilst 52 benefited from different international training courses. We will be granting study leave for personnel to study in tertiary education institutions in 2025.
Sadly, we have lost 166 colleagues to death and seen 283 personnel retire in 2024. May their souls rest in peace, and may the retirees enjoy their well-deserved rest. In response to these losses, we plan to recruit 1,000 additional personnel in 2025 to fill the gaps created by attrition.
As we head into the New Year, I urge you all to continue loving your country, being patriotic, and supporting the Government’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) and the Big Five Game Changers. Let us also remain committed to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in alignment with the SLP Strategic Development Plan (2025-2029).
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government and people of Sierra Leone, as well as our development partners, including UNDP, Embassies, High Commissions, security sector institutions, NGOs, LPPBs and the Media, for their invaluable support to the SLP throughout the year.
On behalf of the Executive Management Board of the SLP, I wish all members of the Sierra Leone Police, our partners, and stakeholders a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
May God continue to guide and protect us as we enter the New Year, 2025.
