By Saidu Dumbuya
The Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU), which mandate is to conduct system reviews of MDAS to investigate institutional weaknesses and proffer recommendations for effective and efficient service delivery, has initiated a Management and Functional Review (MFR) of the Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB) in response to a formal request from the IPCB Secretariat for a thorough assessment of its structure and operations.
The Chairman of the IPCB, Mr. Saa Kpulun, said the review aims at improving the agency’s service delivery, adapt to emerging trends, and ensures it effectively fulfils its mandate of providing civilian oversight of the Sierra Leone Police.
Discussing the significance of the exercise, Mr. Rashid Kabba, Executive Board Secretary of the IPCB, emphasized that the IPCB plays a crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability within the police force. He highlighted that the review is essential for enhancing the agency’s operational efficiency and effectiveness.
In response to the IPCB’s request, Mr. Sulaiman Phoray-Musa, Director of PSRU, approved the review and arranged an inception meeting between PSRU’s technical team and IPCB officials. The meeting was held at IPCB headquarters in New England Ville, detailed the scope, methodology, and timeline for the review process.
During the meeting, Mr. Albert Williams, Head of Program at PSRU, explained that the MFR will investigate potential overlaps in the IPCB’s functions with other government bodies. He added that the team would also examine similar oversight institutions across the West African sub-region to identify best practices that could be implemented locally.
Mr. Williams announced that a report would be prepared upon the exercise’s conclusion and submitted to the Technical Working Group, the Steering Committee on Public Sector Reform, and subsequently to Cabinet for approval. He emphasized that an implementation framework will be included to ensure that relevant stakeholders, including government ministries, act upon the recommendations.
Also speaking at the meeting, Mr. Idriss Koroma, Head of Institutional Reforms at PSRU, noted that the review aligns with Cluster Five of the Medium-Term National Development Plan, which focuses on strengthening the public sector and improving governance.
In March, 12th, 2025, IPCB and three other institutions (PPRC, SLBC, and IMC) were invited to a meeting at PSRU, chaired by Director Sulaiman Phoray-Musa. During this meeting, the Government, through the Steering Committee on the Tripartite Report, conveyed its full support for the Management and Functional Review (MFR) of key Elections Management Bodies (EMB). The meeting focused on the objectives of the MFR, which include strengthening institutional capacity, improving service delivery, and aligning structures with national development priorities. The PRSU boss emphasized the importance of full cooperation and transparency throughout the review process, noting that the outcome will guide reforms for greater efficiency and accountability within EMBs. Director Phoray-Musa emphasized that the MFR will span three months and is the fastest-funded project by the government.
In addition to the MFR, the IPCB is undergoing a separate legal reform process supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the “Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice, and Security” project. This project, which began in 2019, aims to transform the IPCB into an Independent Police Oversight Commission with a broadened mandate and enhanced legal authority.
Progress on this legal reform was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020; however, once completed, the reformed body, the Independent Police Oversight Commission, is expected to oversee not only the Sierra Leone Police but also the Metropolitan and Chiefdom Police forces. Additionally, it will have the authority to create its legal department to enforce the outcomes of investigations.
The ongoing review and reforms are regarded as vital steps toward enhancing police accountability and fostering public confidence in law enforcement institutions’ said Mr. Saa Kpulun, Chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB).
In July 2013, the Police Council, under section 158 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991, gazetted the Independent Police Complaints Board Regulations, 2013 (hereafter referred to as IPCB). The functions of the IPCB are detailed in Regulation 3 (1&2) of the said Regulations. The IPCB serves as a civilian oversight body for the Sierra Leone Police.
