A new chapter in regional banking leadership has unfolded as Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank (SL) Limited, emerged as Vice President 1 of the West African Bankers’ Association following a unanimous decision at the body’s high-level gathering in Monrovia, Liberia.
The appointment was confirmed during WABA’s 79th Executive Council Meeting and 43rd General Assembly, held from April 28 to 29, 2026, bringing together key financial leaders across the ECOWAS sub-region. The development positions Sierra Leone prominently within regional financial governance structures.
Founded on August 10, 1981, in Accra, Ghana, WABA continues to serve as a unifying platform for banking institutions across West Africa. Its core mandate fostering cooperation, strengthening intra-regional trade, and improving payment systems remains central to its evolving strategy amid growing financial integration.
In his address to the assembly, Dr. Gilpin outlined an ambitious vision for a revitalized and impact-driven association. He emphasized the urgency of repositioning WABA into a results-oriented institution capable of delivering tangible value to member banks and their chief executives. According to him, sustaining confidence in the association requires clear returns on institutional participation.
He further advocated for enhanced Know Your Customer (KYC) frameworks and deeper collaboration with global banking partners, particularly in Europe and the United States. Strengthening compliance systems, he noted, is essential in tackling emerging financial crimes, including money laundering and digital fraud.
Highlighting the rapid shift toward digital finance, Dr. Gilpin called for stronger regional oversight mechanisms to safeguard electronic transactions. He also proposed transforming WABA into a research and resource hub, enabling bank CEOs to evaluate performance benchmarks and investment outcomes across the region.
A key pillar of his proposal centered on accelerating the adoption of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which he described as a strategic tool for improving cross-border payment efficiency and reducing transaction costs within Africa.
The assembly also witnessed strong endorsements for institutional reform. Outgoing President Dr. Guy Laurent Fondjo and President-designate Dr. Dele Alabi both supported calls for a comprehensive review of WABA’s strategic direction. They stressed the importance of improved coordination among member institutions and stronger alliances with regional financial bodies such as African Export-Import Bank and ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
Meanwhile, WABA Secretary General Alhajie Jeng praised Dr. Gilpin’s strategic contributions, noting that his leadership qualities and policy insights played a decisive role in his unanimous election. The assembly also elected Isatu Jawara as Vice President 2, further strengthening gender representation within the association’s leadership.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Gilpin expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and reaffirmed his commitment to fostering stronger collaboration among banking leaders. He proposed the creation of a dedicated communication platform to facilitate real-time engagement and policy alignment across member institutions.
He concluded with a call for greater involvement from central banks across West Africa, underscoring their critical role in supporting WABA’s initiatives. According to him, sustained cooperation between regulators and commercial banks will be vital in driving innovation, stability, and inclusive growth within the region’s financial sector.