Apex Bank Sierra Leone Limited Holds
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APEX BANK SIERRA LEONE LIMITED HOLDS RETREAT FOR BOARD MEMBERS April, 2015 The newly established Apex Bank (Sierra Leone) Limited has concluded a Three (3) day Retreat for its Board members. The event which was held at the Dohas Hotel in Bo City was attended by Senior Manage- ment of the Ministry of Agricul- ture, Forestry and Food Securi- ty (MAFFS) National Pro- gramme Coordination Unit and Board Members from the different shades of the society. In his opening statement, the Managing Director of the Apex Bank (SL) Ltd., Momodu Sesay disclosed that it could not have been possible for such deliberation had it not for the tremendous efforts of those who sacrificed in making the RFCIP a success. “If we are able to discuss the RFCIP 2 today, we should be grateful to the contributions of all of us who made it possible for the project to meet its goals . These successes should be maintained” he emphasized. The Managing Director went on to explain the objectives of the RFCIP2, which he empha- sized is “ to improve access to rural financial services, thereby enhancing also the develop- ment of the agriculture sector.” Momodu Sesay gave detail synopsis of the Agricultural Finance Facility (AFF), highlighting products the Bank is expected to be providing to the smallholder farmers. These, he pointed out include: The Agricultural Production Loans, which gives a maximum of Le 3 million and minimum of Le 1 million with loan repayment period of 3 to 12 months; The Agricultural Rehabilitation Loan, which makes provision for the procurement of basic equipment for the rehabilitation of cocoa, coffee, plantations, etc. and also payment for labour. The Loan Size of these cuts between Le 4,000,000 and minimum of Le 800,000 with loan repayment duration of 6 to 36 months. Agricultural Equipment/machinery loan, Provides finance for the acquisition of equipment, processing of cassava, rice and oil palm. (Power tillers and basic farm equipment). The Loan size of this ranges between Le 32,000,000 and minimum of Le 8,000,000 with loan recovery period of 12 to 36 months. Contd. on page 2 Inside De Farm Newsletter is a Monthly Publication of the National Programme Coordination Unit (NPCU). You can listen to Inside De Farm Hour on Saturdays (9:00-10:00am) & Wednesdays (9:00-10:00pm) on Star Radio & AIRadio in Freetown, Gola Agric. Radio in Kenema, Radio Njala at Njala campus, Kiss FM in Bo, Radio Bintumani in Kabala, etc. You can watch Inside De Farm TV Show on SLBC TV on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. For all these and more, visit: www.npcu.org 1 APEX BANK - SIERRA LEONE HOLDS RETREAT FOR BOARD MEMBERS In his contribution earlier, the Board Chairman of the Apex Bank (SL) Ltd., Salamu M. Koroma commended the Management of the Apex Bank and the National Pro- gramme Coordination Unit for their support and direc- tions in making the institution an enviable entity. Meanwhile, the Programme Coordinator of the MAFFS- National Programme Coordination Unit, Mohamed Tejan-Kella reaffirmed his commitment in ensuring that the Apex Bank (SL) Ltd. succeeds and implored others at the National Programme Coordination Unit to support the Bank. The presentation of manuals and policy documents aim- ing at upholding high standard of the bank formed the highpoint of the Retreat. It could therefore be noted that a key deliverable under the RFCIP 2 is the establishment of an Apex Bank and its Board to undertake and provide supervisory, banking and non-banking support services to CBs and FSAs. Apex Bank Board chairman, Salamu M. Koroma making a point PROGRAMME COORDINATOR APPEALS FOR TRANSFER OF TRACTOR HIRE FUND Despite the challenges involved in recovering these loans, it is believed that a huge amount from the Tractorization scheme still rest in the commercial banks; and it is this amount that the Programme Coordinator of the MAFFS/IFAD funded NPCU is appealing for its transfer into the Community Banks and Financial Services Associations. “There is a huge money provided by us the farmers which is lying down in the Commercial Bank. I am kindly appealing with the Ministry to use these funds to capitalize the Community Banks and the Financial Services Associations which will in return provide for the smallholder farmers. We want this money. This is why we want the ministry’s repre- sentative in the Board of the Apex Bank to take this Mohamed Tejan-Kella making his appeal to MAFFS message home” Tejan-Kella pleaded. The Programme Coordinator of the In his response, the MAFFS representative at the MAFFS/IFAD National Programme retreat, the Chief agriculture Officer, Francis A.R Coordination Unit (NPCU) has appealed Sankoh assured the gathering of the Ministry’s to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry continuous support in ensuring that the Apex Bank succeeds and promised to serve as an Ambassador and Food Security to transfer the Trac- tor Hire Purchase Fund into the Commu- of the Bank in the Ministry. nity Banks and Financial Services “ The Apex Bank is the baby of the Ministry of Agri- Associations. culture, Forestry and Food Security. As we provided He made this appeal through the Chief Agricul- our support in ensuring that the RFCIP meets all its ture Officer during the Apex Bank (SL) Ltd. goals, so we shall do towards the Apex Bank. In the retreat for Board Members in Bo City, Southern area of capitalizing the Community banks and the Sierra Leone. Financial Services Associations with the Tractor It could be recalled that the Ministry of Agricul- Hire Purchase fund in the Commercial bank, the ture, Forestry and Food security through the In- ministry will have no problem with that. I am assur- dian Line of credit from the Government of India ing you that, I will report this to the Hon. Minister provided sets of tractors and other farming/ and I think he will have no problem with that” the processing equipment to farmers in the country Chief agriculture Officer assured. through a hire purchase scheme known as the It could be noted that, this plea for the transfer of Tractorization scheme. According to the scheme, fund into the Community banks and financial Ser- farmers are expected to pay for these equipment vices Associations has been trumpeted in various at a subsidized rate. These moneys were to be fora, especially by the Rural Finance team who has lodged in the commercial banks. agricultural financing as their core objective. 2 THE HISTORY OF RURAL AND COMMUNITY BANKING IN SIERRA LEONE BY EDMUND O. KANGAJU COMMUNITY BANK CONSULTANT Former Technical Assistance Agency (TAA) in Kenema now transformed into the Apex Bank The Community Bank Concept in Sierra Leone was preceded by the Rural Bank Concept, which was introduced by the Bank of Sierra Leone in 1985. The introduction of Rural Banks in Sierra Leone, during the pre – war years, was initiated by the Government, who requested the Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL) to search for a system, which will address financial problems of the rural dwellers. During this period, the need for a rural deployed for the extension of rural cred- financial system in Sierra Leone was felt it. as a way to tackle the needs of small – Ownership of rural banks was to be scale farmers, craftsmen, market women, spread as widely as possible among traders and all other micro – enterprises. the inhabitants in the communities they The need for such a system was neces- service through subscriptions to the equity sary, because the commercial banks could capital. Each rural bank is run by a sepa- not accommodate the financial interme- rate Board of Directors, a Manager and diation problem of the rural poor, as they support staff. did not show any interest in dealing with these small – scale operators. These BSL provided part of the share capital of banks were interested in the financing the rural banks on redeemable non – international trade, urban commerce and voting basis and also provided technical industry. There was therefore a gap in the guidance and undertook supervisory roles provision of institutional finance to the in the Pilot Rural Banks. BSL also provided rural agricultural sector. More important, key personnel such as Managers and Ac- the branch network of commercial banks, countants to work in these rural banks, mainly covered the commercial areas and mainly to ensure that they start operation did not reach down to the rural areas. on a sound operational footing. As a result of the invaluable financial ser- After much consultation, the Bank of Si- vices rendered by first rural bank, estab- erra Leone introduced the rural bank lished in Mile 91 in 1985, the rural banking concept and established the first rural concept suddenly became popular and a bank, “the Yoni Rural Bank Limited” in number of rural communities applied to Mile 91 in 1985. the Bank of Sierra Leone to establish rural The concept of rural banking is based on Banks. Although people in the communities the establishment of a simple financial were serviced by the rural bank, but only intermediary, which provides easily ac- few bought shares in these rural banks. cessible financial instruments for the mo- bilization of rural savings, which were Condt. on page 8 3 SUCCEESS STORIES: RURAL FINANCE CONTRIBUTION IN SIERRA LEONE SIMBARU COMMUNITY BANK Case One: IBRAHIM JALLOH Prior to his joining the Simbaru Com- munity Bank, Ibrahim Jalloh was a petty businessman selling scratch cards to mobile phone users. He had no fixed location due to inadequate capital. Further, he was a single man with no dependants. He hardly gets a balanced meal a day.