Short Comment

Giving GTB A Bad Name

Ayoku Liadi, the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank (SL) Limited came to Sierra Leone to clean up the mess left behind by his criminal predecessors. Before the arrival of Ayoku Liadi in Sierra Leone, some senior officials of GTB were well-known for authorizing all sorts of loans in return for fabulous kick-backs. It is no longer business as usual, at least, with Ayoku Liadi at the helm of affairs at GTB.

The Global Times has been shown a list containing the names of debtors that took huge sums of money as loan from the bank even without security or collateral. When Ayoku Liadi took over the running of the bank, he devised methods to recover those bad loans. It is very clear that some senior GTB officials ignored all safe guards in granting loans just to make “commission” out of those loans they approve for some criminal loan applicants.

It is a crying shame that some people who have, all along been complicit in this criminal act are now running away from the bank for fear that they might one day be exposed to public ridicule.

What good would it do anyone if GTB is forced to close down in Sierra Leone just because some selfish people have decided to jump before they are pushed?

We hold the strong view that GTB is providing modern banking services to the people of Sierra Leone on top of the massive employment that they are creating for our young graduates from the various universities.

In our view, GTB must NOT be hounded out of Sierra Leone just because a few greedy people have decided to leave the bank to go and enjoy their loot. GTB should be allowed to continue to grow and expand in Sierra Leone. Let us not chase GTB out of this country just because some of our selfish brothers and sisters have chosen, all on their own accord to leave a thriving bank like GTB.

Very soon, we shall be naming and shaming all those individuals and institutions that owe GTB huge sums of money but have refused to pay up. We encourage Ayoku Liadi to ignore these distractions and focus on taking GTB to higher heights. At least, that is supposed to be his mission in Sierra Leone.

We look forward to a day when our own brothers and sisters will finally take over the running of GTB. Period!