By Francis Kamara
The alleged victim of a sexual harassment scandal at the Rokel Commercial Bank, on Wednesday 19th October 2022, has pronounced plans to seek court action for sexual harassment during her time as a staff at RCBank against her former boss, the Managing Director (MD) of the bank. She made this proclamation during a Press Conference held at the Africell American Corner, Bathurst Street Freetown.
After suffering series of alleged “sexual advances, institutional bullying, intimidation and victimizations” at the hand of Ekundayo Gilpin; Margaret Davies, the alleged victim said the matter has now been reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and that statements have been taken from her witnesses.
Amidst this scandal and the internal investigation by the Bank of Sierra Leone, the Board Chairman has terminated “my contract in retaliation” of the sexual harassment complaint which has been making headlines in top newspapers across the country recently, Madam Davies told journalists during the press conference.
Mrs. Margaret Davies, worked at the Rokel Commercial Bank for six unbroken years after she was hired in November 2016. She served as the Company Secretary and Legal Adviser of the bank until when her contract was recently terminated by the Board Chairman as she believed only few board members met and the decision to terminate her was championed by the Chairman and supported by few board members.
She explained that Mr. Gilpin joined RCBank in July 2017 and shortly after that in August of that year, he started making his advances to her. “I informed my husband who was furious but later suggested that we get witness(es) and evidence against Mr. Gilpin before taking any action. I therefore initiated chats just to get him on record as most of his advances were verbal. I entertained his flattering messages from August to October (2017) to keep my job. In November 2017, I sent him a very STRONGLY WORDED message telling him I am married and would not want to labelled as his girlfriend when I am not one and that I have worked in four bug institutions including an international one (the Special court for Sierra Leone) and do not have the record of dating colleagues let alone my Bosses,” she explained. She also stated that her boss did not relent and this prompted her to start recording Mr. Gilpin to have records of his advances.
As Bank Of Sierra Leone Exposes RCBank’s MD Two Legal Professionals Sacked by him(Gilpin) Confirmed Worthy of their Stance
Speaking to the press about the alleged workplace harassment, Margaret Davies also revealed that she decided to speak with the Chairman of the Board about the issue she had been facing at the hands of the MD, Gilpin but noticed the Chairman always take offence in such discussions. She affirmed that after series of complaints, she said people from within and outside the bank met her close people and loved ones to pleas with her not to take legal action. Madam Margaret said she has overwhelming evidence but cannot comment on any document or witness in order not to prejudice the ongoing investigation.
She went on to say that she has documented some messages with Gilpin making advances to her even though he knew that she is married, and she was pregnant with her second child. Madam Davies said: “Imagine a MD (my Boss and immediate supervisor) pursuing a pregnant married woman… sending me sexually-induced/explicit messages, and making verbal and non-verbal advances.” She said the Chairman was seen to be condoning the MD’s acts of harassments and she can prove that in any court of law. Both of them, she said made the working environment very toxic for her to a point of having a miscarriage on the 10th August 2022.
Madam Saramba Kanneh (a seasoned international human rights lawyer and gender specialist), from Marrah and Associates – who also happens to be the legal representative of Margaret Davies, underscored that in a country where people constantly cry about putting an end to sexual harassment and gender based violence mainly against women, the double standards in Margaret’s case is quite shocking. She highlighted that so many women have been muted and couldn’t come forward to tell their stories – and the manner in which society has handled this issue has served as confirmation of what every woman knows, which is the fear of being castigated, victimized and swindled.
She emphasized that we should all be grateful for someone like Margaret who boldly came forward to tell her story. She assured the that Mr. Gilpin will soon be invited to the CID and will be under investigative scrutiny. She also noted that this is an opportunity for the Judiciary of Sierra Leone to prove that they are committed to ending sexual violence and gender abuse in the country.
Sexual Gender Base Violence activist, Florence Sesay, affirmed that it’s a shame to see that people are actually attacking the victim. She underscored that it’s our responsibility as media practitioners and Civil Society organizations to follow this story and make sure the laws created are working.
Madam Sesay urged that policies should be in place that will be aligned or set-up especially in private institutions for us to be able to popularized these laws and bring to books the perpetrators of such heinous act.
