Monrovia – The Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Monrovia, The Most Reverend Dr. Gabriel Blamo Jubwe, has announced the establishment of an escrow account dedicated to supporting the health and welfare of priests serving within the Archdiocese.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com

The announcement was made on July 2, 2025, during a special gathering of local Archdiocesan priests held at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center (APC) on Randall Street in Monrovia.

Addressing his fellow clergymen, His Grace Archbishop Jubwe revealed that the “Archdiocesan Priests’ Health and Welfare Fund” has been set up at Bloom Bank Liberia. The fund will serve as a formal health insurance scheme to support priests facing medical challenges.

“The health and welfare of my priests is a paramount concern for me,” Archbishop Jubwe said. “It is essential that we care for those who have dedicated their lives to serving the Church and the people of God.”

In addition to the health fund, Archbishop Jubwe reaffirmed his commitment to reviving the “Opus Securitatis” Pension Scheme, first introduced in 1998 by the late Archbishop Michael K. Francis. He pledged that priests who were part of the original plan will receive the benefits due to them, and that the scheme will now be extended to include all priests as they approach retirement age.

The Archbishop also encouraged all priests to maintain a healthy lifestyle and make use of the health insurance scheme in a responsible and transparent manner.

Speaking on behalf of the clergy, the Vicar of Priests, Very Rev. Fr. McDonald Nah, expressed gratitude to the Archbishop for what he described as a “visionary and historic initiative.”

“This is the first time in the history of the Catholic Church in Liberia that such a formal structure has been established to cater to the health and welfare of priests,” Fr. Nah said. “For years, priests who fell ill had no official support and were left to rely on family members, friends, and lay organizations. Today marks a turning point.”

Also in attendance were Very Rev. Fr. Ambrose Dayouga Kroma, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, and other members of the College of Consultors.

The initiative has also brought relief and joy to the laity, many of whom have long expressed concern over the wellbeing of their parish priests. With this new insurance scheme, priests will now have access to medical care at any Catholic health facility, including the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital, using their insurance card. The card, however, is strictly personal and not transferable, a point reiterated by Fr. Nah in his closing remarks.

“Priests are cautioned to use the insurance responsibly and exclusively for themselves,” he said. “This is a sacred trust meant for the dignity and health of those who serve.”

The Archdiocese’s move is being hailed as a major step toward improving clergy welfare and ensuring that those who serve the spiritual needs of others are themselves cared for with dignity and respect.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bloom Bank Africa in Liberia has called for the need for more training in the banking sector in Liberia.

Mr. Olalekan Balogun said the banking sector is a professional sector that needs professionals that will create a conducive clients and employees environment.

He emphasized that  Employees who have undergone training tend to exhibit enhanced job knowledge, better customer service skills, and increased efficiency.

“This not only benefits individual employees but also contributes to the overall success of the bank,” Mr. Olalekan said.

The Bloom Bank Manager and CEO disclosed that he has started engaging in series of training and digital banking efforts to improve the Banking sector of Lineria. 

The Managing Director is significantly contributing to the bank’s achievements and status as a leading bank  to create a vital and rich learning environment for its personnel by recognizing their efforts and developing their skills, rendering them shining elements in different fields of work.

“Even with all the turbulent times our beloved country is passing through, the bank continues to invest endlessly in the potential of its employees by providing diverse training and developmental programs across customized career developmental programs for them to rise up the corporate ladder,”.

He, therefore, vows to transform and support employees’ growth and their adaptation to the pace of the fast changing business environment. 

He said the BANK is interested in  investing in different types of in-house and external trainings that cover various topics ranging from: Banking, MarketingSales, Economics, Information Technology, Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering, Languages Communication and Negotiation Management and Leadership, Legal issues

Mental Health, Safety & Security

Ethics. 

He said the bank is set and ready to continue its invaluable Banking services in the country and herefore call on its clients to take advantage of the new innovation by the Managing Director Balogun. 

Bloom Bank Africa Liberia Limited (“Bloom Bank” or “the Bank”) made these clarity in moving forward.

Commenting on recent incident that happened at the bank that led to the courts closing banks for hours The bank wishes to address the recent temporary disruption in services that occurred on September 5, 2024 at our Head Office.

“This brief interruption, now resolved, stemmed from a legacy legal matter inherited during the acquisition of the then Global Bank Liberia Limited (which was subsequently renamed as “Bloom Bank” following the acquisition) and does not impact the bank’s overall operations.

He explained that the Global Bank had previously initiated legal proceedings against Kailondo Petroleum, seeking foreclosure on its properties due to outstanding debts owed to the bank. 

In response, Kailondo Petroleum petitioned the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), which led to the countersuit currently linked to the recent events. 

The petition through the LACC resulted in a ruling by a lower court in May 2022, awarding damages to Kailondo Petroleum. Before the acquisition of Global Bank by new investors in January 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling with modifications, adjusting the total compensation to $2.31 million plus court charges, totaling $2,539,065.11. Despite the ruling, Kailondo Petroleum’s indebtedness to Global Bank remains outstanding.

As part of the acquisition of Global Bank, the new investors secured an indemnity from the Central Bank of Liberia to cover liabilities arising from the Kailondo Petroleum’s case. This indemnity was put in place to protect Bloom Bank from financial obligations related to the pre-acquisition litigation. In line with this agreement, the Central Bank made an initial payment of $705,744.78 on July 5, 2024, covering 25% of the settlement. The remaining balance is set to be paid over 24 months, starting from August 2024.

Due to recent leadership changes, a delay occurred in the Central Bank’s scheduled payment, prompting the court to take enforcement action against Bloom Bank, which briefly disrupted our operations. “However, we can confirm that the Central Bank has resumed its payment process and is honoring its commitment in good faith and reinforcing confidence in Liberia’s financial system,”.

“We would like to assure our customers and stakeholders that Bloom Bank has no liability in this matter, as all obligations are covered under the indemnity provided by the Central Bank,”

The temporary disruption was swiftly resolved, and our operations remain stable and unaffected. The bank says it will also continue to explore legal means to recover Kailondo Petroleum’s outstanding indebtedness to the bank. 

“We are fully committed to maintaining financial stability while continuing to provide reliable services to our clients.

Monrovia – John Davis, former president of the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI), has condemned the actions of the sheriff of Criminal Court C and officers of the Liberia National Police for detaining him, the manager of Bloom Bank, and its staff for over three hours on Thursday. 

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com

According to Mr. Davis, he had visited Bloom Bank to complete a transaction when the Court Sheriff, accompanied by police officers, entered the bank to enforce a court order. Davis explained that he quickly met with the bank’s manager, and together they contacted the acting Central Bank Executive Governor Henry F. Saamoi to find a solution. However, the sheriff and police officers insisted on evicting the staff and customers from the bank. When they were unsuccessful, they left everyone inside and locked the bank. Davis revealed that the sheriff used a welding machine to seal the building.

“As I speak to you, I am being held as a prisoner in Bloom Bank against my will, simply because I came here as a customer to complete a transaction,” Davis wrote while inside the bank.

He further stated: “My only crime is being a customer of a bank whose new owners are facing what can only be described as psychological and legal harassment—simply because they bought a bank involved in a lawsuit with a loan customer. When I arrived, I saw a battalion of sheriffs and police officers engaged in arguments with the bank’s staff over a court writ.”

Davis, who served as LBDI president for ten years and as president of the Bankers Association for nine years, said he attempted to use his experience to de-escalate the situation. While he was meeting with the bank’s managing director and discussing the matter with the acting governor of the Central Bank on the phone, he was shocked to find the bank locked, with staff and customers still inside. “As I write this, I am still locked inside the bank,” Davis said.

Davis expressed frustration, noting that all phone lines of those connected to the court decision were turned off after the court personnel left. He further criticized the officers for attempting to take pictures of the bank’s vault, which angered several people inside.

He said: “Equally disgusting was the attempt by some of the officers to take pictures of the bank vault which infuriated some of the. The court officers brought welders, chains and have barricaded everyone in. Whatever the issue this was unnecessary, stupid and from my experience will have long lasting damaging consequences.”

Davis described the incident as a flagrant violation of the rights of everyone involved. He warned the court against using the legal system to suffocate the banking sector, cautioning that such actions could have serious consequences for the economy.

Deep Trouble

Months after acquiring Global Bank, Bloom Bank Africa Limited continues to face serious legal challenges with the Liberian judiciary. The bank is entangled in a judgment of over US$3 million in favor of Kailondo Petroleum Incorporated, a company owned by businessman-turned-lawyer George Kailondo. 

Kailondo had filed a criminal complaint against Global Bank, claiming over US$6 million had been diverted from an estate account opened for his company. He alleged that money intended as a refund for credit he provided to the bank had been illegally withdrawn from the account without his knowledge or consent, with the bank debiting his account as if he were still indebted to them.

Monrovia – Excitement filled the air at Bloom Bank Africa’s Red Light branch this past Saturday as customers gathered for the maiden Aye Waste Promo draw. This ongoing savings promotion, which began in June and will run until January 2025, is designed to reward Bloom Bank’s customers with both impressive prizes and a competitive 10% annual interest rate on savings certificates.

To participate in the Aye Waste Promo, customers are required to purchase savings certificates worth LRD 20,000 or more. Each certificate purchased comes with an instant branded gift, and for every 10 certificates purchased, customers earn an entry into the grand prize draw for bigger rewards.

At the first draw, a middle-aged customer from the Buchanan branch, known for her dried goods business at Buchanan Market, won the grand prize—a motorbike. “This motorbike will help me expand my business and better serve my customers,” she said with excitement.

The second prize, a 32-inch TV and desk, went to a young electronics vendor from Waterside Market on Mechlin Street. “These prizes will help improve my shop and attract more customers,” he commented.

An older gentleman involved in the susu business won the third prize, a percolator. He expressed his appreciation, noting how the prize would be a useful addition to his daily routine.

The event also featured fun activities where additional prizes were awarded. A middle-aged lady won a pressing iron in a dance competition, and a young customer earned a stereo set by answering a quiz question correctly.

The Liberia National Lottery Authority was on hand to oversee the draw, ensuring that the selection of winners was fair and transparent.

Bloom Bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Lekan Balogun expressed the bank’s commitment to fostering a savings culture among its customers. “The Aye Waste Promo is our way of encouraging our customers to save more and reap the rewards of their commitment. We believe in supporting the financial growth of individuals and SMEs, and this promotion is just one of the many ways we’re helping to build a stronger, more prosperous community.”

The Aye Waste Promo draws will continue on the second Saturday of every month until January 2025. The next draw, scheduled for September, will feature prizes including a branded bike, an icebox, and a microwave. The grand prize draw in January 2025 will offer another motorbike as the top prize.

With the Aye Waste Promo, Bloom Bank continues to deliver on its promise of empowering customers and supporting their financial goals through innovative and rewarding financial products.