The job of the Inspector General of Police is simple on paper but difficult in reality. Simple on paper because the title suggests authority, structure and command.

Difficult in reality because an IGP must lead the police, raise standards, protect the public and build an institution that actually works.

Every IGP before Seedy Touray tried to do this in his own way, but none delivered the kind of clear and measurable results we are seeing today.

During the First Republic, policing remained basic and limited. The Force was small, traditional and slow to modernise.

During the Second Republic, it became politicised and often feared, with professionalism taking a back seat to political loyalty.

When the Third Republic opened, Gambians had high expectations, but the same old problems persisted. Several IGPs came, including Landing Kinteh, Mamour Jobe and Abdoulie Sanyang.

They maintained the Force and made small adjustments, but manpower remained low, morale was weak, promotions were slow, visibility was poor and systems were outdated.

Then Seedy Mukhtar Touray took over.
Touray did not talk. He worked. And he fixed the two biggest problems that crippled the police for years: not enough officers and no movement in the ranks.

Under his leadership, the GPF carried out the largest recruitment in its history, with over 1,300 new officers. For the first time, rural communities that rarely saw a patrol now have consistent police presence. That alone is a major turnaround none of his predecessors achieved.

Then came the second major achievement: the promotion of more than 600 officers. And before this round, there had already been other mass promotions under Touray.

Officers who waited many years with no hope finally moved forward. New leaders have emerged in stations and regions across the country. The Force now has fresh supervisors, new energy and a stronger command structure.

Previous IGPs promoted officers, but they never restructured the entire leadership base in one organised and merit-based national exercise.

These two reforms, mass recruitment and mass promotion, are exactly what the GPF needed to stand on its feet again.

Touray stabilised numbers, restored morale and opened opportunities for the hardworking men and women who carry the uniform with dignity. He has built a more disciplined, more confident and more active police force.

This is why Seedy Touray deserves more than national praise.
He deserves global recognition.

Around the world, police chiefs are judged by what they fix, not what they say. Under limited resources and immense pressure, Touray rebuilt an institution many believed was permanently stuck. Few countries, large or small, have seen such fast, real and measurable improvement in their police leadership.

Seedy Mukhtar Touray has outperformed every IGP The Gambia has ever had, in results, in impact and in the strength of the institution he is shaping. That is the kind of leadership global policing bodies recognise, and The Gambia should be proud to put his name forward.

This is not to suggest that the police is a perfect institution. It is not. They still have a lot of growing to do. The Force is resource-strapped compared to other countries and there are still occasional cases of excessive force.

But these problems should not stop us from acknowledging the achievements. Security sector reform is finally on course.

Beyond mass enlistment and promotion, the next phase requires investment in equipment, modern policing tools, improved training and strong action against corruption.

These reforms demand not only a strong IGP but political will from the Executive, the Legislature, the Judiciary and support from the international community.

Seedy Touray has done his part.
He has given the GPF new direction, restored confidence and rebuilt the foundation.

That is why he deserves a global award, not as a favour but because he earned it.

By Kebeli Demba Nyima

Disclaimer:

Kebeli Demba Nyima is a Gambian scholar based in Atlanta, USA. He holds several advanced degrees, including an MA in National Security. The views expressed in this article are entirely his own and do not necessarily represent the position of any institution, organisation or government he is affiliated with.