SLCB Building Poses Threat To Customers & Invitees
By Mackie M. Jalloh
As the bank prepares to celebrate 50 years of operation next year, 2023, it is disgraceful to observe that the very structure of the bank is giving way slowly, as wall tiles on the outside of the structure is giving way and injuring people. One wonders what will happen when the institution commences its celebration next year, as visitors and customers will throng the edifice. Will part of the structure give way. The attention of the management has been drawn to this prevailing condition, but not much has been done other than promises to look at what to do to prevent a catastrophe from taking place. Unlike its counter parts that have given facelifts to their institutions, the SLCB has abandoned actions to be at par with its rivals.
This apparent neglect by the management has raised more concerns among residents, especially those using the Siaka Stevens Street axis to go about their business, as well as customers visiting the bank. The SLCB is known to have made huge profits over the years, including most recent times, but has failed to rehabilitate the very building that has housed its staff and customers. The fear of many Sierra Leoneans is the possibility of being injured by falling tiles from the building. Many are worried as to whether the structure of the bank will give way soon, as the saying goes: “coming events cast their shadows before them”..
It should be noted that this condition of the bank’s building has been made public for action to be taken by the management to prevent injury to both passers-by and customers, but to no avail. Recently a vendor selling newspapers was injured by a falling tile from the building, and our information is that the bank merely took care of the vendor and has since forgotten about the hazard that the building poses to others passing by.
What is most disgraceful is the fact that as a very important financial institution in the country, located on one of the capital’s main streets, where top officials, including the President, First Lady and ministers use frequently, the management has deliberately refused to address the situation. Most interesting is the fact that the said building is very close to the head quarters of the Sierra Leone Police and almost opposite the country’s main Law Courts Building, and no one had dared to call the attention of the bank to address the imposing danger that it poses to the public.
Social commentators say that it is com0plete negligence on the part of the management of the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank to monitor their building and do the necessary renovation to make the facility safe, despite making huge profits. One concerned elder citizen maintained that they may probably do something to the structure when a serious disaster has taken place.
What is of concern to many citizens is that such a financial institution like the SLCB should have funds set aside to address such looming danger to both passers-by, staff and customers. Another point raised by concerned citizens is if the outer structure is showing signs of derelict, what of the inner structure. They expressed concerns that the bank may one day collapse due to the absence of maintenance, and if that happens, customers, passers-by and staff within and without will be injured or even die.
More details next edition.
