Over 700 civil servants in Grand Kru County, southeast Liberia most of whom are health practitioners, security personnel and employees of local government have been unable to access their salaries at Afriland Bank for the past four months. According to numerous and consistent complains through the District Office of Grand Kru County District #2 Representative Cllr. J. FonatiKoffa, the situation is either because of unresolved breakdown in the electronic payments processing system or unavailability of cash, including poor customer service at the bank.
The extreme difficulties in paying civil servants’ salaries at the Afriland Bank branch in Barclayville, the county’s seat, have drawn the attention of Rep. Koffa.A press statement issued Wednesday, November 13, from the lawmaker’s office, says District Coordinator Chris Joboe at the head of a five-man committee has been tasked to investigate the “alleged complains” including the bank’s operations, obligations, and customer relations.
“Cllr. Koffa has asked the Chris Joboe’s Investigating Committee to submit findings to his Capitol Building office within two weeks,” according to the statement.
“Upon submission of the findings, Rep. Koffa might engage the administrators of the local bank branch in Barclayville, the County Authorities as well as the headquarters in Monrovia.”
Reports say civil servants in the county are worried their salaries will most likely don’t have anything left by the time they get paid due to mountains of credits.
“We regret to inform our valued customers of system breakdown,” a teacher quoted one of the annoying announcements from the bank.“I kept checking my phone for notification and there was nothing and when I got to the bank, l was told about the system error and there won’t be payment for me until the error is rectified” said a nurse.
“The interest rates go up faster when the demand is high after civil servants failed to access their salaries,” said a local foreign bureau operator in Barclayville.
“Sometimes, there are standoffs between bank staff and civil servants when announcement of postponement is made or certain civil servants can’t be paid because of said situation,” another forex bureau operator added.
