RCBank Holds Public Lecture, Awards Outstanding Customers And Agents


In a strategic move towards appreciating the good work of its Agents and Customers, RCBank has held a Public Lecture and an Award ceremony for its customers and Simkorpor Agents for their outstanding contributions towards the development of the Bank on Friday, 11th August 2023, at the D’ Bim D’ Bam Hall Wellington Street, Freetown.

Mrs. Kezia Salankole, Head of Simkorpor at RCBank, pointed out that the award ceremony is in line with the  Celebration of Simkorpor 5 years Journey. In commemoration of the event,  she further revealed  that they have looked at their journey, picked out the best of their customers and Partners that have helped them through their five-year  trajectory of Success.

 

Chairman of the Programme, Mr. Aruna Dumbuya pointed out in his Public Lecture that the Bank Prioritizes financial literacy in a bid to enhance customers Protection. He affirmed that over the years, the leadership of RCBank have been doing public Lectures at Universities and in Public Places both national and International.

He added that as a bank, they have seen how climate Change and environmental issues are impacting the world,  and they  recently celebrated  their 4th anniversary of tree Planting Project at Petifu Masiaka on 27th July 2023 in a bid to become a green friendly Bank. He added that RCBank Limited is also committed towards protecting and preserving the environment.

The Managing Director Dr.  Ekundayo Gilpin revealed that as a bank they are on a Journey, a path towards digital exploit in Sierra Leone. He admitted that he has been a customer and also experienced financial inclusion in other countries which he believes can be replicated in Sierra Leone. This led to his recognition that there was a gap in digital Banking as far as expectations and deliverables are concerns in in the country. In 2017, he realized that Sierra Leonean bank can take the lead.

When I came back in 2017, I saw an opportunity to make this happen in Sierra Leone and I believe that despite the presence of Nigerian banks, Sierra Leonean Banks, we can take the lead.  I believe 5 years down the line, I believe we have been able to make big input. We have been able to support financial transactions to vulnerable people, thousands around the world, right now we are working along with the Orange, Africell and other Teleco companies. We are piggy banking on the policies and the variables coming from the regulators. We are strongly part of the National switch and strongly part of the financial Inclusion that is being read out by the central Bank” Dr. Gilpin stated.

Representing the Ministry of Finance, Acting Director of Research and Delivery Division, Alhaji Abu Komeh expressed appreciation to the management of RCbank for giving them the opportunity to deliver a statement on digitalization in financial transactions.

He pointed out that this event marks an important milestone in emphasizing the financial sector role in enabling economic transactions, financial Inclusion, Facilitating trade, creating employment and contributing to inclusive economic growth.

He further admitted that in this age of globalization, rapid expansions on the use of green technology and innovative business approaches, the world has keep on providing digital financial services which is now a game changer in low income countries like Sierra Leone.

He affirmed that beyond, the traditional financial services offered by commercial Banks such as Account opening and credit facilities, digital financial services has become a great way to reach financially excluded communities.
RCBank recently unveiled five new kiosks as part of its Agency Banking Initiative, strategically placed at Mile 91, Rutile , and Lunsar, Kambia and Port Loko as a Key component of the bank’s vision to foster accessibility and streamline financial Processes in Sierra Leone.

As the programme climaxed with the presentation of awards, distinguish customers and Agents Praised the management of RCBank for acknowledging their roles and contributions towards the successful operations of the Bank.




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Orange Money Launches Pay With Orange Money at Conex Station


Sierra Leone’s leading mobile money service providers, Orange Money Sierra Leone, in collaboration with Conex, launched the ‘Pay with Orange Money at Conex Station’ initiative on Friday, August 18th, 2023, at Conex Fueling Station in Brookfields, Freetown.

The event aimed to enhance staff knowledge about the new customer facility and brought together employees from all Conex branches in Freetown.

David Mansaray, CEO of Orange Money Sierra Leone, expressed excitement about partnering with Conex, emphasizing Orange Money’s goal of financial digitization.

He said rheir vision is for Sierra Leone to transition into a cash-light society, reserving physical cash for extreme situations only.

Mansaray recounted a personal experience of needing fuel without physical cash, which inspired the partnership with Conex to address such challenges.

He envisioned extending Conex’s sales hours beyond 9 pm, exclusively accepting Orange Money to minimize night-time cash handling risks.

Avrajit Kar, CEO of Conex, emphasized the partnership’s significance in digitizing Sierra Leone, highlighting the convenience and transparency of using Orange Money for payments at Conex.

Abibatu Baxter, Head of Marketing Partnership and Strategy for Orange Money, detailed how to use the product on both smartphones and local phones. Smartphone users would download the Orange Money App and scan the QR code, while local phone users could dial #144# and select option 4.

The event concluded with the official launch by the CEOs of Orange Money and Conex. A promotion was introduced, offering Orange Money customers a chance to win one hundred liters of fuel for purchases made at Conex stations until the end of August.




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To Drastically Reduce Onion Importation in 2 Years… Agriculture Minister Examines Pee Cee & Sons Onion Cultivation Site in Port Loko District


In a recent announcement, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Henry Musa Kpaka, expressed his optimism about reducing onion imports to Sierra Leone in the coming years. Kpaka, who concluded his first full week in his role, visited the onion-rich region of Port Loko District and outlined plans to curtail the country’s dependency on imported onions within two and a half years.

The onion belt in Port Loko, boasting over 1,200 hectares of suitable lowland for onion cultivation, holds the key to this ambitious endeavour. The majority of onion cultivation in this area is carried out by smallholder farmers, who possess the necessary skills but face several challenges. Despite these obstacles, the potential benefits associated with the onion value chain are apparent to these farmers.

Minister Kpaka’s pivotal moment of conviction came during a visit to the Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) mechanized onion production site in Mathen village, Lokomasama Chiefdom. This site has demonstrated that Sierra Leone has the capability to significantly increase domestic onion production and thereby reduce the reliance on imports.

Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) conducted a pilot project covering 5.6 hectares of mechanized onion production last year, yielding 10 metric tons per hectare, which is below the estimated potential. However, with adjustments to soil pH, they anticipate achieving up to 30 metric tons per hectare.

Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) has strategically planned to cultivate 75 hectares during the October-December cycle and again in the February-May 2024 cycle. If these plans are executed successfully, an additional 4,500 metric tons of onions could be introduced to the market within the two cycles. To provide context, official trade data indicates that Sierra Leone imported slightly under 1,000 metric tons of onions in the entirety of 2022.

In a noteworthy initiative, Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) supported 900 smallholder farmers last year by providing inputs, mechanized plowing services, and training in sound agronomic practices for onion cultivation. The future prospects are even brighter, as Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) aims to dedicate nearly 640 hectares to onion cultivation within the next three years. These promising statistics are indicative of a potential path for Sierra Leone to transition from an onion importer to a net-exporter.

President Bio’s Feed Salone Programme, known for its strategic integration of the private sector to drive agricultural transformation, plays a significant role in this endeavour. The Government is dedicated to supporting private sector actors such as Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS), recognizing that their success contributes to the overall prosperity of the nation.

As Sierra Leone sets its sights on self-sufficiency in onion production, Minister Kpaka’s enthusiasm and the progressive efforts of entities like Pee Cee and Sons Ltd (PCS) provide hope that the nation’s reliance on imported onions could be dramatically reduced within the next two years.




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Sierra Leone Tops West Africa in Highest Food Price Inflation


A recent World Bank Food Security Update has ranked Sierra Leone top in the list of countries to have recorded the highest Price Inflation in West Africa.

The study covers a period of three months starting from March to June 2023.

Awoko Newspaper reported that Sierra Leone is at the apex after Nominal Food Inflation surged to a new peak of 58 percent. The West African nation surpasses its previous peak which was 56 percent.

The new data shows that Sierra Leone is at the top alongside West African neighbours, Ghana.

According to World Bank, the calculations include the use of Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the overall data of the CPI.

Experts have said that the country’s food inflation is affecting the majority of low and middle income earners.

The government acknowledged that the country is undergoing one of its worst economic shocks due to the protracted effect of the Ukraine war and other factors.

Most of the countries affected by food inflation are in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Venezuela ranked top of the list in World Nominal Food Inflation with a score of 414 while Zimbabwe leads in Real Food Inflation with a score of 80.

Sierra Leone scores 58 in Nominal Food Inflation and 13 in Real Food Inflation.






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Get More With Ezipay SL Merchant Cash Out


In today’s fast-paced world, convenience is paramount when it comes to financial transactions. We all seek hassle-free methods to meet our monetary needs swiftly and securely. That’s where Ezipay SL Merchant Cash Out comes into play, offering a seamless way to cash out money from your Ezipay SL Wallet through a reliable and trusted merchant.

Before delving into the details of Ezipay SL Merchant Cash Out, it’s important to understand the fundamentals of Ezipay SL. Ezipay SL is a digital wallet that allows users in Sierra Leone to perform various financial transactions using their smartphones. With Ezipay SL Moblie app, individuals can transfer money, conduct purchases, pay bills, and more, all with the touch of a button.

With Ezipay SL Merchant Cash Out, the days of standing in long queues or dealing with the inconvenience of finding an ATM are gone. Instead, individuals can seamlessly cash out money by visiting a merchant who is part of Ezipay SL. The process is straightforward and user-friendly, making it accessible to individuals of all backgrounds.

The benefits of using Ezipay SL Merchant Cash Out are aplenty. Firstly, it eliminates the need to carry physical cash, reducing the risk of loss or theft. Additionally, it saves users precious time by avoiding the need to visit an ATM or bank branch. Moreover, through Ezipay SL Merchant Cash Out, individuals have access to cash whenever and wherever they need it, eliminating any restrictions on financial freedom.

Ezipay SL Merchant Cash Out presents an innovative and user-friendly method for cashing out money from your Ezipay SL Wallet. By partnering with trusted merchants, Ezipay SL ensures a seamless and secure experience for its users. With this convenient feature, individuals can say goodbye to the hassle of visiting ATMs and embrace a hassle-free and efficient financial future. So why wait? Explore Ezipay SL Merchant Cash Out today and experience the ease and convenience it offers.

The App is available for download on google playstore and App Store or click here for faster download: https://linktr.ee/ezipaysl




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Ex-Housemates Salone Star Almon Sall, Bags African Fashion Model of The Year Nomination


One of Sierra Leone’s male models and ex-housemate Salone contestant Alimamy Sall Kamara popularly known as (Almon Sall) has been nominated as best African Fashion Model of the Year 2023 by the African Fashion Desingers Awards.

Almon Sall has represented Sierra Leone on international stages and he is reportedly the first Sierra Leonean model to be nominated for the award and was nominated among different Africans models.

Almon has called on his fans and Sierra Leoneans to support him win the award by voting endlessly for him.

The African Fashion Designer Awards is a fashion exhibition event that showcases Fashion through creative designers by allowing them to display their talent thereby boosting their confidence.

The African Fashion Awards is to raise the profile of African Fashion Creatives in the Global Fashion Industry ensuring that they are featured and considered as serious contributors in the global marketplace.




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