IGP Touray Dedicates Maiden HEROES Award Victory to Police Officers, Public Support and Government Backing

Written by: Alieu Jallow

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Seedy Muktar Touray has expressed profound gratitude to The Fatu Network, the Government of The Gambia, members of the Gambia Police Force (GPF), and the Gambian public following his victory in the Security Category of the prestigious HEROES Awards.

Touray’s recognition marks his first victory at the annual awards scheme, which celebrates outstanding individuals and institutions contributing to national development and public service. He emerged winner in a highly competitive category that included Ebrima Mboob, Director General of the Gambia Immigration Department (GID), and Chief Fire Officer Masanneh S.K. Bah of the Gambia Fire and Rescue Services (GFRS).

Organised by The Fatu Network, the HEROES Awards has become one of the country’s leading public recognition platforms, honouring excellence, leadership and service across a wide range of sectors. Winners are determined largely through public voting, making the award a reflection of public confidence and appreciation.

Speaking during a celebration organised by the Gambia Police Force at the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) Headquarters in Kanifing, Touray described the award as a collective achievement for the entire police institution rather than a personal accomplishment.

He thanked The Fatu Network for creating a platform that recognises and celebrates national service, and also expressed appreciation to the Government of The Gambia for providing what he described as an enabling environment for the police to effectively discharge their constitutional mandate of maintaining law and order while protecting lives and property.

Touray further acknowledged the overwhelming support of Gambians whose votes contributed to his victory, noting that the recognition serves as motivation for both the police leadership and rank-and-file officers to continue serving the nation with professionalism and dedication.

The police chief also commended officers and personnel of the Gambia Police Force for their cooperation, discipline and commitment to duty, emphasising that the award belongs to every officer who continues to serve the country, often under challenging circumstances.

The celebration highlighted the strong sense of unity and camaraderie within the force and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to professional policing, public trust and national service.

The day-long event featured a variety of sporting and recreational activities organised by the GPF Sports Department, including athletics competitions, inter-departmental tug-of-war contests, musical chairs and football matches involving various police units and formations.

The event concluded with renewed calls for professionalism, teamwork and dedication as the force continues its efforts to strengthen public confidence and enhance security service delivery across the country.