By Theresa Kef Sesay
Globalrisk Insurance Company (GIC) – SL Ltd, one of the leading insurance companies in the country has been highly rated for it strict adherence to its policies with customers nationwide. During investigations conducted by this medium it came out clearly that the business entity is legally operating according to laid down statutory policies.
Against the backdrop of bad Press against the insurance company this medium galvanized the mounting of detailed investigation during which it was revealed that GIC is a duly incorporated limited liability company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and certified by the Sierra Leone Insurance Commission (SLIC) to carry out its insurance businesses.
Globalrisk Insurance Company offers life insurance products which include: the ‘Gentri’ Assurance Plan, Guaranteed Education Assurance Plan among others. It was indicated that the primary objective of the ‘Gentri’ Assurance Plan is to ensure that the policyholder lives a good life by affording a loan facility to the customers to acquire basic household assets, save for the future, as well as providing benefits for dependants in the event death of the customer. With the Guaranteed Education Assurance Plan it helps customers save towards the future education of their children, as well as providing yearly financial support to the child upto 18 years in the event that the customer dies before then.
What again emerged from the investigation was that the customer base of the company keeps increasing countrywide having customers in both private and public institutions across the nation.
With regards the company’s loan scheme it is in full operation with the commencement of the granting of loans over a year ago to its customers and so far it on record that the company has disbursed over Five Hundred Million Leones (Le 500, 000,000) to its customers nationwide.
One of the customers of the GIC, Mohamed Konteh disclosed to this medium that there is qualifying period for customers to benefit from the company’s loan scheme which, according to him, is 12 months for a fully paid up customer.
He continued that an interested individual must send in a formal application to the company for a loan. After that stage all duly instituted processes would be followed in order to meet due diligence for the loan to be granted.
Records of the company show those who have benefitted from the loan scheme and benefits paid to families of deceased customers nationwide.
This medium was reliably informed by the Management of the company that it was disturbing to learn from some unscrupulous persons that the loan scheme is fictitious.
He explained that one of their volunteers , Michael James, who is a marketer misinformed some members of the public about the company’s products, especially its loan scheme but stated that he is gratified that after a thorough sensitization many of the company’s customers now know the processes to follow in order to qualify for a loan.
A teacher by the name of Salamatu Lamin stated that after visiting the company’s headquarters on No. 2 Wellington Street in Freetown she was properly informed about the GIC loan policy. She intimated that some of her colleagues were about to withdraw from the Insurance Company due to the marketer’s misinformation but after confirming that the loans are granted upon completion of a one year period criteria they were all satisfied.
Chief Executive Officer of the company, Paul Oparah stated assured that the company is poised to improve the lives of their customers and help them and their families live comfortable lifestyles.
He furthered how Government alone cannot improve standards of living. Paul encouraged others in the private sector to design services that will uplift the standard of life of the vast majority.
Paul concluded by stating that GIC as an institution is doggedly bent on improving the lives of all Sierra Leoneans that are eligible to take any of their policies.
