By Yusufu Sesay
The Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) on Thursday 2nd February, 2023 officially opened the Book of Condolence for the late Dr. James David Rogers (COR) at the Bank’s Headquarters on Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown.
Dr. James D. Rogers was appointed Chairman, Board of Directors of SLCB on 8th October, 2018 until he passed away on Wednesday 25th January, 2023. The late seasoned civil servant and intellectual served the Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), served as Governor, Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL), Lecturer, Teacher, Author, Football Analyst, amongst other callings.
Speaking at the official ceremony, SLCB Managing Director, Yusufu Abdul Silla, said Dr. James Rogers was a man raised from a very humble beginning in a small commercial town in Pujehun District in Southern Sierra Leone, Massam Kpaka.
The Managing Director said until his last breath, Dr. James Rogers served the Bank with humanity and as family with impeccable diligence and resolute commitment.
According to Yusufu A. Silla, “Our Chairman was an exceptional visionary leader with an unmatched drive laced with professionalism and a great sense of humour. I witnessed him exhibit these attributes in Board meetings, where he would handle challenging and sometimes controversial matters with ease and tact; always guiding his colleagues to arrive at a consensus. It is no gainsaying our late
Chairman’s erudite leadership contributed to the changing of the fortunes of the Bank to being the envy of the industry today.”
The Managing Director recalled that since the appointment of the late Board Chairman till his death, his contribution to the stability and growth of the Bank would remain incredibly indelible.
“I am confident to stand tall today to pronounce proudly that the works of our Chairman, Dr. James David Rogers, shall always be remembered in the history of the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) and he shall go down as one of the Bank’s greatest Board Chairmen,”
Mr. Silla averred, adding, “At this stage, let me invite us all to stand up and observe a moment of silence in honour of the memory of our departed Chairman and those selfless serving men and women who devoted their lives to the success of this great Bank.”
Deputy Minister of Finance, Bockarie Kalokoh, showered praises on Dr. Rogers’ charismatic leadership, whom he said supported him at the SLCB and when he was also appointed as Deputy Minister.
He said the late man’s directives and actions towards the growth and development of the Bank would ever remain fresh in their memories.
The Deputy Minister therefore encouraged the Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL) and SLCB to support the publication of the book titled “New Economics in West Africa” that was authored and left behind by Dr.
Rogers. The Deputy Bank Governor, Dr. Ibrahim Stevens, said the late Dr. Rogers was keen to pursue his return to Sierra Leone when he was serving as Senior Economist in the Central Bank of United Kingdom.
Dr. Ibrahim Stevens recalled: “He was a very honest man and was the first person to tell me about the problem back home that we needed young people to help rebuild this economy. We had shared excellent relationship as we often used to discuss national issues. He did a very great work at the Bank of Sierra Leone during his tenure in office as Governor between 2003 and 2007.”
According to the Deputy Bank Governor, Dr. Rogers was the first Bank Governor who had the passion to devote his time to technical competency and development of the staff.
He said BSL would ever remain very grateful to him for his great service to the Bank. Dr. Stevens said the late man believed in post-graduate qualifications with the right technical tools that would turn around anything in the Bank, adding that during his tenure, he was instrumental in expanding commercial banks from two to more than ten.
Dr. Stevens continued that the late Dr. Rogers was involved in the transformation of the financial service landscape with the determination to reposition the financial service as a vibrant system for financial intermediation and also to improve the economy; instrumental in establishing the Sierra Leone Stock Exchange; the establishment of the regional institute (WAIFEM) to ensure the technical competency of Central Banks’ staffs amongst others.
In his brief statement, Dr. Rogers’ eldest son, James Rogers, said his father had a beautiful heart and his character was built on integrity, hard work, resilient mentality and always strived for excellence.
In his eulogy, James Rogers said: “He is probably the most intelligent person I have ever met on earth. He was a great economist, giant in the area of finance, honesty, integrity that transcended to a brilliant economist. My father’s love for education ensured that his village had a school and health centre, a legacy that would live on for generations to come.”
A Board Member, Alfred Yateh, said Dr. Rogers was not just an ordinary man but a very prominent personality who had written series of books that include “Anarchy in Sierra Leone”, “New Economics for West Africa” amongst others. He said though the Board Chairman left them in tears of sadness, they would ever remember him for the strong leadership he provided for the Board of the Bank.
