Rokel Commercial Bank Marks International Women’s Day with Donation to Female Inmates
By Aaron Parker
One of Sierra Leone’s leading financial institutions, Rokel Commercial Bank, commemorated International Women’s Day on Sunday, 8 March 2026, by extending humanitarian support to female inmates at the Freetown Female Correctional Centre.
The bank marked the global celebration with the donation of various food items and essential toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare of women serving sentences at the facility. The gesture forms part of the bank’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility and social inclusion initiatives across Sierra Leone.
A delegation from the bank, comprising senior management and staff members, visited the correctional centre to present the items and interact with the inmates. The donation included bags of rice, sanitary pads, onions, cooking oil, soap, bottled water, toilet rolls, tissues, juices and other condiments intended to ease some of the daily challenges faced by inmates at the facility.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, the Deputy Director General, Susan B. Coker, expressed profound appreciation to the bank for what she described as a compassionate and timely intervention.
Speaking in an emotional tone, Coker acknowledged that life in correctional facilities can be extremely challenging for both inmates and staff members. However, she emphasized that the Correctional Service remains committed to fulfilling the government’s mandate of rehabilitation and reintegration.
According to her, the institution has introduced several vocational and skills training programmes designed to help incarcerated women rebuild their lives and become productive members of society after completing their sentences.
“These programmes are meant to empower inmates with practical skills that will enable them to start afresh when they leave this facility,” she explained.
Coker also called on corporate institutions such as Rokel Commercial Bank to support advocacy and public education initiatives aimed at helping citizens better understand the laws of the country.
She noted that some women currently in custody may have found themselves in conflict with the law due to a lack of awareness about legal requirements and responsibilities.
“Public education on the laws of the land can play a significant role in reducing crime and helping citizens make informed decisions,” she said.
Coker further revealed that the correctional facility currently houses a number of infants born to incarcerated mothers. She explained that only babies who are still breastfeeding are allowed to remain with their mothers within the facility.
Once breastfeeding ends, and in situations where no relatives are available to care for the child, the infants are transferred to the Ministry of Social Welfare for proper care and protection.
She thanked Rokel Commercial Bank for complementing the government’s efforts to improve the welfare of women in custody and assured the delegation that the donated items would be used in the best interest of the inmates.
Speaking on behalf of the bank, the Head of Public Relations, Aruna Dumbuya, conveyed warm International Women’s Day greetings to the inmates on behalf of the Managing Director, Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, as well as the board, management and staff of Rokel Commercial Bank.
Dumbuya encouraged the inmates to remain hopeful and courageous despite the challenges they are facing, stressing that difficult circumstances are often temporary.
“No condition is permanent,” he told the inmates. “What matters most is how you prepare yourselves for the future.”
He also reiterated that ignorance of the law has contributed to many individuals finding themselves in prison and pledged that the bank would support initiatives aimed at raising public awareness about citizens’ rights and responsibilities.
Dumbuya explained that the visit formed part of the bank’s reflection on its 2026 theme, “Give to Gain (G2G)”, which encourages acts of generosity and solidarity with vulnerable members of society.
“Our presence here today demonstrates that you are not forgotten,” he said. “We want you to know that there are people who care about your wellbeing and your future.”
Other members of the bank’s senior management team also addressed the inmates during the visit. Among them was Mrs. Brenda Davies, who offered words of encouragement and urged the women to maintain good behaviour while serving their sentences.
She noted that the donation was motivated by genuine compassion and concern for the women, adding that the bank remains hopeful that many of them will have an opportunity to rebuild their lives once they regain their freedom.
“I sincerely pray that some of you will regain your freedom before the end of the year and have the chance to start a new chapter in your lives,” she told the inmates.
Also speaking during the event, the Head of Sim-Kopor, Kezia Salankole, thanked the management of the correctional centre for granting the bank the opportunity to celebrate International Women’s Day with the inmates.
She encouraged the women to remain resilient and use the time available to them to reflect on how they want to rebuild their lives after their release.
Salankole also urged the inmates to take full advantage of the skills training opportunities provided at the correctional facility so that they can become economically empowered and self-reliant when they return to society.
In addition, she called on civil society groups, advocacy organizations and institutions to intensify public education efforts on the laws of Sierra Leone, particularly among vulnerable populations who may not fully understand the legal consequences of certain actions.
In response, one of the inmates, speaking on behalf of her colleagues, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Rokel Commercial Bank for remembering them during the International Women’s Day celebration.
She also appealed to organizations and human rights advocates to continue supporting inmates and promoting access to justice, especially for individuals who may require legal assistance but lack the resources to obtain it.
The event concluded on a deeply emotional note as the inmates performed moving songs reflecting their personal experiences, hopes and appreciation. Several women also delivered individual messages of gratitude to the Rokel Commercial Bank delegation, thanking them for the visit and for bringing encouragement and support during the International Women’s Day celebration.
For many of the inmates, the visit served not only as a moment of relief but also as a reminder that they remain part of a society that still cares about their wellbeing and future.
