Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Honourable Minister of Interior, Honourable Cabinet Ministers present, Service Chiefs and Senior Government Officials, Assistant Inspectors-General, Senior Police Officers, Distinguished Guests, Class of Recruit Intake One, 2024-2025 Ladies and Gentlemen,

The population growth of a country calls for a corresponding expansion of its security services. Similarly, the rapid development of technology and diverse use of social media outlets call for adequately equipped and efficient national security structures and personnel.

With this in focus, today’s ceremony reflects The Gambia’s determination to have a police force that befits our circumstances, in terms of numbers, capabilities, and responsiveness to emerging security issues. I am proud and honoured, therefore, to preside over this auspicious occasion.

On behalf of every Gambian, I congratulate you, the graduating Intake of 2024-2025 on the successful completion of your rigorous journey of training, sacrifice, and growth. This is not a milestone for you alone. We share this moment of celebration with you and your families, friends, and the mentors who stood by you, offering support and encouragement. Collectively, we stand by you, hopeful that you are fully equipped and prepared to serve our dear Republic with unwavering dedication, loyalty, and pride.

Recognising that rendering national service to maintain law and order, peace, and freedom is a noble sacrifice any patriotic citizen can offer their country, you have chosen one of the noblest professions in the world – that is, policing.

Day in and day out, be it in the dead of night, under the hot burning sun, or during heavy downpours and thunderstorms, police officers roam our streets to protect lives and property and to guarantee us rest, sleep, and leisure without fear of criminal attacks. We are proud of them and grateful for their service.

Be assured, therefore, that my government will remain ever ready to provide the moral support and material resources you need to effectively police The Gambia. As evidence of this, in the first half of this year, 2025, we procured nine (9) brand new vehicles to facilitate police patrols.

We are aware that proactive policing prevents crimes and reassures citizens, and so is community policing, equally phenomenal.

Consequently, as Commander-in-Chief of The Gambia Armed and Security Forces, I will never abdicate the responsibility of protecting the residents of this country from preventable harm or danger. Empowering our security services is a viable way of achieving this goal.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, The deliverables in the Recovery Focused National Development Plan (2023-2027) on policy and institutional reforms, capacitating security institutions, and maintaining a results-oriented public service speak to reforming, capacitating, and empowering The Gambia Police Force (GPF).

Our objective is to safeguard the peace and stability that The Gambia is renowned for worldwide, without exposing our security sector personnel to undue danger. Their lives matter as much as civilian lives.

As young recruits, you have undergone rigorous training to transform you from civilians to professional police officers. Our expectation is that you will exhibit the highest degree of discipline, integrity, and ethical conduct when you go out to serve the public. The public also expects you to honour your training instructors and all those who contributed to your achievement today.

You are fortunate to be the second batch of police recruits trained under the new democratic dispensation. You must have realised that your training curriculum was designed to reflect this reality.

Together with the ideals of the security sector reform and the renewed focus on human security, as opposed to state security, the new GPF curriculum is infused with modules on community-oriented policing, human rights, human trafficking, and gender and child rights. This is to equip you with the appropriate tools and information for democratic policing and to positively change the mindsets, attitudes, and perspectives of the Police Force. I advise you not to regard your service as a mere profession but a calling to uphold the values of our Republic and contribute to the greater good. You have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the men and women who served before you and devoted their lives to the nation as heroes and heroines.

Their legacies rest on your shoulders for you to carry with pride, knowing that your actions will strengthen our collective future. Tough moments often lead to great achievements, so embrace the trials ahead and allow them to mould you into the leaders our Republic needs. Persistence, resilience, honour, and service are values that guide profitably in times of uncertainty. March gracefully towards excellence, and they will sustain you when you stumble and lift you when you accidentally fall.

I entreat you to embody such noble values in whatever you do, and serve with integrity and passion, without losing sight of the impact you can make in the country or the world at large.

Once again, congratulations on your remarkable achievement! May your careers be filled with purpose, courage, and fulfilment. The nation is proud of you and looks forward to greater achievements from you. May God bless our noble efforts and lead us to success. I thank you all for your attention.