Afriland Bank Liberia Limited has clarified that it cannot be held directly responsible for delays in the payment of civil servants assigned in rural Liberia.
The bank noted that the services are being rendered by Rural Community Financial Institutions (RCFI), organized by the government with the help of Afriland Bank to bridge the gap between the formal and informal banking sectors.
Afriland Bank’s Managing Director, Robert Nkous, said under the memorandum of understanding (MOU) reached with the government, the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) provided US$50,000 to help with the formation of RCFI, while Afriland Bank was charged with the responsibility of providing technical assistance for its operation.
Managing Director Nkous disclosed that RCFI, known locally as MC 2 Bank, is owned and managed by the community through the advice of its own Board of Directors, and operates independently from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and Afriland Bank Liberia Limited.
He made the clarification when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Banking to answer to a complaint filed to the committee by Rivercess County Senator, G. Wellington Smith, on behalf of civil servants assigned in the county.
Several government employees in Rivercess County, among them teachers, earlier stormed Senator Gevon Smith’s office at the Capitol to complain of Afriland Bank’s alleged delay in paying their salaries while at the same time carrying out unnecessarily pay cut.
Nkous, who was accompanied to the Senate hearing by the bank’s Legal Adviser, Atty. Pape Suah, denied the charges brought against the bank by Senator Gevon Smith, attributing the complaint to the lack of understanding of the role of Afriland Bank in the operation of the Rural Community Financial Institution or MC 2 Banks.
He pointed out that, contrary to the allegations made in the complaint, Afriland is only engaged in providing technical advice to rural banks, open and audit individual accounts, train staff and give advice in the construction of bank edifices.
Afriland, however, underscored that it is very concerned about the issue raised regarding MC 2 Bank operation in Rivercess County, and promised to fully cooperate with the Senate’s investigation on the matter to ensure that progress already made regarding salary payment is not jeopardized.
Meanwhile, Managing Director Nkous was discharged by the Senate Committee and told that he will be contacted in case further clarification is needed on the matter.