After years of anticipation, the Samoa Police Academy, a project funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, is on the brink of completion. 

Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo confirmed that if all progresses as planned, the academy could be officially opened in June, marking a significant milestone for law enforcement training in Samoa.

Auapa'au confirmed that the contractor is on track. 

However, he foresees the official handover ceremony from the People's Republic of China to the Samoan police force occurring in July, indicating the finalisation of administrative procedures.

Funded at an estimated cost exceeding $15 million and supplemented by over $1 million from the Samoa Government Approved Fund, the Samoa Police Academy project has been years in the making. 

Initial approval by the Cabinet in June 2015 set the wheels in motion, with formal agreements signed between the two countries in 2018.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Samoa Police Academy took place in October 2022, with dignitaries including Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and former Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Samoa, Chao Xiaoliang, in attendance. 

The academy's construction site holds historical significance, having once housed the old Tafaigata prison facility before its relocation to Tanumalala.

Designed by the Shanghai Architecture Engineering company and constructed by the Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group from China, the Samoa Police Academy boasts state-of-the-art facilities tailored for comprehensive law enforcement training. 

It comprises training and teaching classrooms, an academy office, an operations training venue, accommodations, equipment rooms, watching stands, a roofed sports field, and auxiliary facilities such as defensive driving training grounds.

Despite setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including border closures and logistical challenges, the project persevered. 

The former Tafaigata prison facility, which temporarily housed the St. Paul’s Academy, has now been repurposed to accommodate the Samoa Police Academy, ensuring continuity in educational initiatives within the community.