By: Isatou Sarr
The Gambia Police Force, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on Saturday, 2nd August 2025, inaugurated the new Essau Model Police Station.
This is said to be a milestone in the country’s on-going security sector reform and commitment to democratic, people-centred policing.
The facility represents a shift from traditional law enforcement to a rights-based, community-oriented model that prioritizes the needs of women, children, and vulnerable groups. It also supports The Gambia’s broader Transitional Justice and Security Sector Reform (SSR) agenda by improving local infrastructure and access to justice.
Presiding over the ceremony on behalf of President Adama Barrow, Minister of Interior Hon. Abdoulie Sanyang described the station as a state-of-the-art facility equipped with modern technology, which will serve as a hub for law enforcement operations in the North Bank Region.
“This is a significant milestone in our collective pursuit of a more secure, peaceful, and stable Gambia,” he said.
He emphasized the government’s strategy of decentralizing police infrastructure as a foundation for national development, noting that enhanced security attracts investment and employment, which in turn reduces crime. “Our communities must be safe, and our people deserve the best security service delivery, irrespective of location,” he added.
The model police station, he says, reflects government’s commitment to modernize law enforcement, promote transparency, and build public trust. “Since 2017, my government has embarked on an ambitious security sector reform agenda, which is now embedded in the National Development Plan 2023–2027,” the minister said.
Inspector General of Police Seedy Muctar Touray said the project required extensive planning, coordination, and dedication from architects, engineers, contractors, and local stakeholders.
He highlighted key features of the new facility, including ramps for persons with disabilities, safe spaces for victims of sexual offences, and human rights-compliant detention cells. He added that officers will now have access to well-equipped offices, dining areas, and sanitation facilities to better serve the people of Essau and its surrounding communities.
Touray confirmed that the project was jointly financed, with UNDP covering 95 percent of the cost and the Gambia Police Force contributing the remaining 5 percent.
UNDP Africa Regional Director and UN Assistant Secretary General, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, for her part, urged the community to take ownership of the facility and reiterated UNDP’s continued support to The Gambia’s security reforms. She stressed the importance of inclusive governance and sustainable peace.
The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and a guided tour of the modern, gender-sensitive, and rights-compliant facility.