Monrovia – Ecobank Liberia, an affiliate of the leading pan-African banking group, the Ecobank Group, celebrated its Thirteenth annual Ecobank Day on 11^th October on the theme ‘Enabling Inclusive Learning for all.’  This theme reflects Ecobank’s conviction that every child – including those with disabilities — should have equitable access to education.

The program, held at Riverview International Christian Academy (RICA) in Ganta, Nimba County, marked a significant milestone in the bank’s ongoing commitment to transforming education across Liberia and Africa – at- large.

Launched in 2013, Ecobank Day is the Group’s flagship corporate social responsibility initiative, mobilizing employees, the Ecobank Foundation, and partners around critical causes such as health, education, and youth empowerment.  It reflects the Group’s commitment to sustainable development and community empowerment.

The 2025 edition was particularly meaningful as it marks Ecobank’s 40th anniversary, celebrating, 40 years of innovation, growth, and commitment to Africa’s development.

Speaking at the program, Madam Salamata Diallo, Managing Director of Ecobank Liberia, emphasized the importance of inclusive learning and the role of technology in bridging educational gaps. This year’s theme, “Enabling Inclusive Learning for All,” aligns with the final phase of Ecobank’s three-year campaign, Transforming Africa Through Education.

“Far too often, children, especially those with disabilities are marginalized, not due to a lack of ability, but because the systems around them have not evolved to meet their learning needs. Thanks to advancements in technology, we now have the tools to change that narrative”. Madam Diallo stated.

She named AI-powered platforms, text to speech software, and speech recognition tools as gateways to learning, confidence, and inclusion.   

As part of the celebration, Ecobank Liberia officially dedicated and turned over a newly refurbished and fully equipped IT laboratory to RICA. The lab features modern computers, desks, chairs, and Air Conditions, amongst others designed to support both general and assistive learning technologies.

About Ecobank

Ecobank Group is the leading private pan-African banking group with unrivalled African expertise. Present in 34 sub-Saharan African countries, as well as France, the UK, UAE and China, its unique pan-African platform provides a single gateway for payments, cash management, trade and investment. The Group employs over 14,000 people and offers Consumer, Commercial, Corporate and Investment Banking products, services and solutions across multiple channels,

including digital, to over 32 million customers.

About Ecobank Foundation
The Ecobank Foundation was created to make a positive impact on the lives of people in Africa. Established by the Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African bank, the Foundation is positioned to contribute to the social and economic transformation of the continent, particularly in the communities in which the bank operates.

For more information, please visit: https://ecobankfoundation.org/

Monrovia – An incident at Ecobank Liberia’s Head Office on 11^th Street in Sinkor has sparked widespread speculation and confusion, after an alleged armed robbery attempt was thwarted on its premises on Wednesday. The suspect, now in police custody, is yet to be formally identified by the Liberia National Police (LNP), which has not commented publicly on the matter. 

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh and Patience Jones

In an official statement issued Wednesday, Ecobank Managing Director Salamata Diallo confirmed that a man had entered the bank’s Private Banking Lounge and attempted to rob a teller.

“Ecobank Liberia Limited regrets to inform all customers and the public of an unfortunate incident that occurred at our Head Office Branch, precisely Private Banking Lounge, 11th Street Sinkor, on 6th August 2025, where an armed man tried robbing the Teller of the lounge,” said Diallo. “We are deeply concerned about this incident and are actively working with local law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough and comprehensive investigation. The safety and security of our customers and staff remain our utmost priority. We therefore reassure all that we have taken immediate steps to enhance security at all our branches.”

She reassured the public that no money was stolen and said that immediate steps had been taken to enhance security at all bank branches. “We have taken immediate steps to strengthen security measures across all our branches. While we understand that such incidents may raise concerns, we want to reassure all our valued customers that our security systems remain robust, and their funds and personal information are fully protected.”

Ecobank further clarified that the incident has not affected its daily operations. All banking services continue to operate normally across branches and digital platforms.

The bank also expressed appreciation for the support and understanding of its customers and the general public during this period.

It called on customers seeking additional information or wishing to report concerns to contact the Marketing and Corporate Communications Unit at the Ecobank Corporate Branch on Ashmun Street in Monrovia.

Incident Details Remain Unclear

According to Varnie Karn, Ecobank’s Chief of Security, the man entered the bank posing as a customer. “He said he wanted to transact, then used pepper spray on the teller. The teller hit the alarm, and we called the LNP,” Karn explained. “We boggled him on the ground, handcuffed him, and turned him over to the police. He didn’t take anything, and no cameras were destroyed.”

The Liberia National Police has not given detail about the investigation. It has not released the suspect’s name or disclosed whether he will be charged with robbery, assault, or any criminal offense. But a police source, citing anonymity, said a single barrel gun with rounds was found with the man. The lack of official information has fueled public speculation and conflicting narratives.

Public Reaction Split

The incident has stirred mixed reactions among Liberians. Some are praising Ecobank’s security and the Liberia National Police for their swift response, while others are urging caution and demanding transparency from the police before drawing conclusions.

“If this man is indeed who social media claims he is, we need to hear his side of the story,” said one Monrovia resident outside the bank. “You can’t just arrest someone and not tell the public what’s going on.”

While no official identification has been provided, several individuals on social media claim the man arrested is Emery Johnson, a respected medical geneticist in Liberia.

“This guy is a nice and quiet guy,” wrote Levi Saah Magna Tiklo, a social media commentator. “There must be a misunderstanding. Mr. Johnson is one of Liberia’s best medical geneticists, a guest lecturer at A. M. Dogliotti School of Medicine and the University of Liberia Graduate School. I’m hoping he comes out of this safely.”

Emmanuel K. Kepah, Jr., claiming to be a former student of the suspect added: “There must be a mix-up somewhere! I’ve known him (Mr Johnson) to be a good man. He taught me Medical Genetics at the A.M Dogliotti School of Medicine as well. Praying for God’s intervention and an impartial investigation.”

Jacob Harmon called for a police investigation to ascertain the fact: “The LNP should investigate this further. It might be due to depression or some kind of psychological trauma. How will one man rob a bank in broad daylight in Liberia? Something must be wrong somewhere with his mindset.

Monbo Dredd agreed: “Please let’s hear exactly what led him on this path. I do not I do not condone his immoral decision on this matter but we have the right to know: what will make such an educated man to sparrow downhill to this godforsaken path?”

These comments have since gone viral, prompting fresh debate over whether the incident was a genuine crime or a misunderstanding involving someone with no criminal history.

As of Wednesday morning, the police had neither confirmed nor denied the identity of the suspect or released any formal statement on the nature of the charges.

Salamata Diallo is a highly qualified, result oriented, intelligent and effective decision-making woman with over 20 years of broad anddiversified banking experiencein corporate and retail banking, risk management, corporate finance, project management, operations, and audit,  across multiple affiliates within the Ecobank Group.

Her career within Ecobank is a great example of career progression within any organization. She joined Ecobank as a Teller at Ecobank Guinea and steadily moved up through roles such as Relationship Manager, Branch Manager, and Deputy Head of Risk Management.

Prior to this appointment, she served as Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Ecobank Guinea, where she led the corporate bank strategy execution and revenue growth for the affiliate.

She also held leadership roles at Ecobank Gambia including Head of Corporate & Investment Banking and Acting Managing Director, where she played a key role in expanding corporate portfolios and structuring credit deals.

Her leadership experience spans multiple subsidiaries, including Ecobank Gambia, Ecobank Development Corporation (EDC) Ghana, and EDC Investment Corporation Côte d’Ivoire, where she worked on syndicated loan transactions and corporate finance deals, strengthening her expertise in investment banking and capital markets.

Salamata holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Akron (USA) and MA in Economics from Universite Kofi Annan De Guinea.

The Fulbright Alumni is bilingual and has effective knowledge of Sub – Sahara African Banking Market, precisely west Africa. She also holds an ITB certificate from Centre de Formation de la Profession Bancaire (CFPB) France.

 She has attended several high-profile trainings and received several honors/awards from the Financial Management Association, Beta Gamma Sigma Kappa of Ohio Chapter, amongst others.

Mr. Mohammed Ayouba Dukuly is an accomplished Banker whose work experience covers over 22 years, with expertise in Branch Operations, Credit and Risk Management, Business Development, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Social and Regulatory Issues, as well as Financial Management.

He joined Ecobank Liberia in November 2003 as intern in Funds Transfer unit and gradually ascended to the echelon of authority.

Prior to this appointment, he was the Chief Financial Officer of the bank where he led, developed and executed the Bank’s strategy to meet its annual target. He handled this portfolio successfully and greatly improved the Cost-to-income ratio from 70% in 2016 to 43% (as of June 2024).

 He also fully supported the business units of the bank namely Corporate & Investment, Commercial, and Consumer Banks, as well as drove performance to achieve over double-digit growth in revenue and pre-tax profit for 2023.

He has also held leadership roles at Ecobank including Acting Managing Director, Country Risk Manager, Senior Credit Analyst, Branch Manager, and Branch Operations Manager among others.

Mohammed holds an MBA in Banking and Finance, and a BBA in Accounting (Cum Laude) from the University of Liberia. He is a fellow (1593694) of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant  (ACCA-UK), and a CPA member of the Liberia Institute of Certified Public Accountant (LICPA).

He has also attended numerous high profile local and external training programs including, CFO Leadership Conference- Lagos, Nigeria, Latest Interpretation of IFRS Cape Town -South Africa, Remedial Management Training Program – Harare, Zimbabwe, Finance Leadership program – Accra, Ghana, Update on the IFRS standards facilitated by PwC-Ghana – Accra, Ghana,  and  Finance Empowerment Program at ETI Finance Academy, Lome’ Togo amongst others.

Monrovia – As part of the celebration of Ecobank Day, Ecobank Liberia over the weekend dedicated a refurbished computer lab at the D. Tweh Memorial High School in the Borough of New Kru Town. 

By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)-websterclayeh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Ecobank Day is every 19th of October. The bank is present in 34 African countries. Corporate social responsibility is built on three pillars. Health, education, and financial inclusion.

The bank started its educational campaign last year when it launched a three years plan which has to do with transforming education in Africa.

Last year, the bank visited the Gray D. Allison. The second phase of the project hits the D. Tweh Memorial High School with a refurbished computer lab.

The bank turned over a refurbished and fully furnished Computer Laboratory to the administration and the students of the D. Tweh Memorial High School.

This year’s Ecobank Day 2024 theme, “Ignite Learning with AI,” highlights the importance of equipping young people with digital skills and AI knowledge. 

Ecobank believes that AI can reshape destinies by preparing Liberia’s youth for the evolving job market and empowering them to tackle real-world challenges.

David Thompson is Ecobank Liberia Executive Director for Operation and Technology. He told the gathering of students that Ecobank Day is a way of giving back to the community.

Also, giving an overview of the project, Ecobank Liberia Head of Risk Department Obadiah Koon said the refurbishing of D. Tweh Memorial High School computer lab symbolizes a commitment to its social corporate responsibility. 

“We serve not ourselves but the community. And so, we have taken a day to serve the community, to show to the community that Ecobank cares by providing our little token to you,” Koon said. 

He added: “This year’s theme is transforming education through AI. We want to show you how we can transform education through AI. You will see it happening because Ecobank has set the basics. Today, Ecobank through its corporate social responsibility is bringing AI to your door stairs and you now can take it from there.”

Ecobank Liberia Acting Managing Director Mohammed Ayouba Dukuly told the gathering of students that technology makes banking easy. With artificial intelligence, Mr. Dukuly says it has the ability to transform the educational sector. 

“Today, you can go to any of the search engines and you can get what you want in no time. When we were going to school, we had to go into the library, we had to read books, some of those books were outdated but today, anything you want, if you want to write a speech, you go to the search engines and it will give you speech,” Mr. Dukuly said.

Peter K. Breeze is the Principal at the D. Tweh High School. He praised Ecobank Liberia for refurbishing his school computer lab. 

“On behalf of the D. Tweh High School, we want to say thank you so much for selecting our school. You are not just taking, you are giving back to society,” Mr. Breeze said.

The D. Tweh High School’s Principal also promised to properly manage the computer lab so that it benefits current students and students to come.

Monrovia – After months of delay, the Civil Law Court has scheduled October 3 as the date for proceedings in the US$700,000 damage case against Ecobank Liberia Limited.

By Victoria G Wesseh 

In Judge Dunbar’s Writ of Re-summon, he outlined a series of deadlines for filings from both sides to assess the impact of several legal issues on the case, including the bank’s investigation findings.

Smith is the former deputy director for Information and Coordination at the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo Information Services.

He was dismissed by former President George Weah, after the bank allegedly leaked information of LIGIS’s account number#6101350441 and 6100064362 details to Mr. Alex Williams, LISGIS’s former deputy director for Statistics.

Williams, the complaint claims, who is one of the panelists on the Spoon Talk Show, used the leaked statement, to accuse the plaintiff of withdrawing monies from said accounts, and diverted the same to his personal benefits.

Smith is demanding US$500,000 in general damages and US$200,000 as punitive damages.

Smith’s lawyer during the hearing will set out the evidence they plan to use at trial and arguments for why none of that material — or any of the allegations in their complaint filed against Ecobank Liberia — is subject to the standards set for claiming damages.

The documents include some evidence that goes beyond what was made public in the complaint.

The hearing will discuss next steps in the case, which had been in limbo for months, as Mr. Smith pursues his claims against the co-defendant Ecobank.

 Smith’s complaint claims that the said statements were manipulated by the defendants and the management of Spoon TV, and Mr. Stanton Witherspoon to lie that the said statements were evidence of the wrongful withdrawal.

The court record claims that at the time of the libelous action, co-defendant Kromah was then employed by the co-defendant bank, in the Card Operation Department.

“This act of Kromah was carried out on October 31, 2022, admitted to it in an Affidavit of attestation dated March 30, ” the record alleges.

The suit further argues that co-defendant Eco-bank, after investigating and being fully aware that their conduct against the plaintiff, had harmed his reputation, claiming “the defendants engaged in a cosmetic approach of attempting to deal with the situation, dismissed co-defendant Kromah on January 19, 2023.”

The lawsuit claims that defendant Eco-bank is responsible for the act and conduct of its employee, Kromah, because the co-defendant Eco-bank lawfully employed Kromah. Under the doctrine of Respondent’s superior, the employer is responsible for the act and conduct of its employee, especially when the wrongful conduct was done during the course of duty of the employee and within the working hourly time of the employee in the bank facility,” the lawsuit said.

The suit also argued that the willful and calculated acts of the defendants to subject the good and untainted regulations of plaintiff, without any legal jurisdiction, is intended to expose the plaintiff to danger and harm, in the public that he had the enormous sum of money owed to the banking, thereby ignoring the frequency of crimes reported in the Liberian society. “This act of the defendants is wrongful, and the action of damages for Wrong for libel and slander will lie against the defendants.”

“The defendants continuous act to defame the reputation of the plaintiff on national radio stations, print media and other intellectual forums does not only damage and taint the importance of the plaintiff but has clouded and subjected the lives of the plaintiff to unwanted national and international insecurity,” the lawsuit said.

MONROVIA – The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Samuel Tweah, is not a signatory to the LISGIS’ Census Account with Ecobank, neither did he transfer any money from LISGIS’ account to a private account in Cote d’Ivoire, Ecobank Liberia has clarified.

By Lennart Dodoo

The clarification from the bank comes amid an allegation from dismissed Deputy Director General for Statistics at LISGIS, Alex Williams, who claimed on Spoon FM last week that the Finance Minister who chairs LISGIS Board had transferred a sum of US$2m from LISGIS account to his private Ecobank account 6100005514, in neighboring Ivory Coast.

Williams was dismissed along with the Deputy Director General for Operations, Wilmot Smith, by President Weah last week after several flaws impeding the start of the 2022 national census on November 11 became very glaring.

The flaws that marred the process ranged from questionable recruitment of enumerators, inadequate deployment of census materials to payment of enumerators.

The 2022 national population and housing census would be the first in 15 years. The Constitution of Liberia requires that a census be held after every 10 years.

After his dismissal, Williams accused Min. Tweah of committing fraud at LISGIS and at the same time misinforming the President about the realities at the census house.

However, Min. Tweah who did not take the allegation lightly wrote Ecobank Liberia requesting the bank to investigate and provide clarity on the allegations made against him.

In a November 17, 2022 communication addressed to the Managing Director of Ecobank Liberia, Mr. George Mensah Asante, Mr. Tweah stated, “…the baseless allegation is damaging and has compelled me to kindly request Ecobank to provide me with the facts pursuant to the account in question. As I am only a signatory to a personal account I have with Ecobank in Liberia, I do not have the means to withdraw funds from any account of a Government Ministry or Agency, and I am completely perplexed as to why Mr. Williams chose to lob such an allegation against me, knowing factually that as Minister I do not administer the day-to-day financial affairs of LISGIS or any other Government agency.”

Minister Tweah further contended that in his capacity as Finance Minister, he approves transfers of public monies to various government ministries and agencies under the Public Finance Management Law under established and its general regulations.

He stated in his communication that these transfers under the PFM law follow established PFM procedures and protocols to access resources from designated US dollar and Liberian dollar bank accounts at various financial institutions or banks.

Min. Tweah: “Mr. Managing Director, it may interest you to note that this malignant misinformation provided equally tends to compromise the integrity of ECOBANK since it seems to imply that persons who are non-signatories to Ecobank accounts may be able to move monies from such accounts either through some form of collusion or breach of banking internal controls or through digital hacking. Your investigation into these possibilities or impossibilities can establish the facts and place them where they ought to be, relevant to the allegation against me as Minister of Finance and Development Planning and Chairman of the Board of LISGIS.”

Providing clarity to the transaction amid the allegation, Ecobank Liberia stated that the account number 6100005514 Mr. Williams referred to by Williams is a transit account created by Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire, the affiliate bank of Ecobank Liberia, for the specific transfer of US$10,000 on March 18, 2022 to AVIANET CONSULTING, to transport tablets to Liberia.

This transfer, according to Ecobank, was done through AVIANET’s bank in La Cote d’Ivoire called Banque Atlantic de Côte d’Ivoire.

Ecobank explained that whenever Ecobank Liberia sends US dollars to La Côte d’Ivoire it routes the payment through its affiliate bank called Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire, which creates a Transit Account in Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire to complete the transaction to another bank. In this case, on March 18, 2022, Ecobank Cote d’Ivoire created Transit Account 6100005514 to transfer US$10,000 to a bank account belonging to AVIANET Consulting at Banque Atlantic de Côte d’Ivoire. The US$10,000 transferred equals CFA 5.69 million. As such 6100005514 is Not a LISGIS Account in Côte d’Ivoire and neither is Minister Tweah associated with such an account.

While Ecobank said it could not release the account information of AVIANET Consulting since it’s a third party, it provided an invoice from AVIANET amounting to CFA 49, 959, 750 (US$86,267) – the amount LISGIS was supposed to pay for AVIANET Consulting for transporting tablets to be used for the 2022 national population and housing census. All payments by LISIGS towards the US$86,227 for the transportation of the tablets were routed through the transit account in Cote d’Ivoire.