05/21/2026
THE IGP SHOULD INSTEAD BE RECOGNIZED FOR ALLEGED BIASES, IMPUNITY, AND ABUSE OF OFFICE AMONGST GAMBIANS
Awards are conferred to acknowledge exceptional achievement, commemorate outstanding dedication, and incentivize recipients to sustain their accomplishments. By providing external validation, awards underscore significant contributions to a field, reinforce positive behaviors, and inspire others to strive for similar success. Key reasons awards are given include motivation, recognition and appreciation, setting standards, and influencing a field.
However, police reform and attitudinal change within the police are yet to be actualized. Police brutalities, human rights violations, and institutional biases of the Inspector General of Police amongst citizens are enough reasons not to award IGP Seedy Muctarr Touray any recognition. The credibility of the police is at stake due to personal ambitions and the lack of equity and rights protection of Gambians.
Under Seedy Muctarr Touray's leadership as IGP, police reform has been derailed, individuals and their properties have been stolen by police without compensation, and all the cases won against the police have not been paid for, making the Gambia Police Force utterly too powerful and unacceptable to Gambians.
Moreover, the police are more politicized and polarized today due to Seedy Muctarr Touray's biases and conflict of interest to maintain justice, law, and order in the country without compromising his independence. If we put a standard in rule of law, equity, fairness, and justice, then our unbiased submissions would be to follow best moral values in policing. If that is a yardstick to measure recognition, then Gambians will require a well-deserved recognition rather than a premeditated one.
If we put a blind eye to all the rights violations, abuses, unfair treatment of Gambians by the police, and police violating the basic laws of the land, then we are submitting ourselves to thanking the police boss to continue doing exactly that. To me, my conscience will not allow me to support nor align myself with such a person. One thing is clear, though: the police boss could be awarded for biases and treachery of innocent Gambians. We must not promote bad behavior; our country should be better than that.
This except was a submission from a commissioner of police:
"Itβs worthy to bring to your attention that the IGP, Seedy Touray, is involved in a massive campaign for the heroes award recognition. Credible sources disclosed that media houses and individuals were bribed to secure him votes. As we speak, the likes of Almameh Manga have created WhatsApp platforms to coerce every police officer, including recruits, to vote for him. Screenshots of officers who voted are shared on the platform to show their support for the IGP. A leader who seeks awards and recognition through the coercion of staff does not lead β he manages fear.
When recognition is extracted under pressure, it is hollow. The applause is forced, the loyalty is conditional, and the record is built on the silence of those who could not say no.
Awards that come from coercion stain the award, the office, and the institution. Integrity can not be delegated. If a leader cannot earn recognition through results, fairness, and service, then no award will ever make it real.
Leadership without integrity is a liability, and recognition without merit is a fraud.
We must take necessary steps to prevent his insatiable quest for the recognition by exposing their plans and sensitize the civilian population about the dangers of according to him such a recognition. "
Ensa AB Ceesay, USA.
