In an unfolding labor dispute highlighting challenges faced by staff in diplomatic missions, Christiana Coker, a former employee of the Gambian High Commission in Sierra Leone, has raised concerns over unpaid end-of-service benefits.
Madam Coker, who dedicated over 26 years of service to the Gambian diplomatic mission, claims she is owed her rightful entitlements under Sierra Leonean law, which the High Commission has allegedly refused to honor.
Coker began her career at the High Commission as a receptionist on 1 July 1999 and was later appointed as Private Secretary. Over the years, she navigated numerous challenges, but her recent experience has left her feeling betrayed and deprived of her legal rights.
In 2025, Coker decided to relocate to the United States and formally resigned, submitting a letter of voluntary retirement to claim her end-of-service benefits. However, the High Commission’s response was ambiguous, acknowledging her service but not confirming payment of her entitlements.
A subsequent letter from the Gambian Foreign Ministry in Banjul merely thanked her for her service without addressing financial dues. When she sought clarification, she was reportedly told that Gambian diplomatic missions do not pay end-of-service benefits, asserting instead that NASSIT contributions cover social security.
Coker challenged this stance, citing Sierra Leonean law, which mandates payment of end-of-service benefits and leave allowances to departing employees. She reached out to the Sierra Leone Ministry of Labour, which engaged the Gambian Foreign Ministry. Several meetings ensued, including a key discussion in August 2025, where officials from both countries debated her claims.
During these discussions, the Gambian High Commission maintained that it was not obliged to pay her, despite Sierra Leonean labour law provisions suggesting otherwise.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labor in Sierra Leone recognized her entitlement and instructed the Gambian High Commission to calculate her dues, including leave allowances and end-of-service benefits. The Director General of Labour assured her that once the calculations were completed, her dues would be paid. However, she remains unpaid, and the Gambian mission continues to deny any obligation, citing the absence of a specific legal requirement.
Expressing her disappointment, Coker said her years of dedicated service have been undervalued, and her legitimate entitlements unjustly withheld. “The law should prevail,” she declared, emphasizing that her rights under Sierra Leonean labour law must be respected.
Attempts to contact the Gambian High Commission for comment have been unsuccessful. The Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Bulli Dibba, declined to comment on the matter.
This dispute sheds light on the broader issue of diplomatic staff rights and the legal obligations of foreign missions operating in Sierra Leone. As the case unfolds, it raises critical questions about adherence to labour laws and the treatment of long-serving expatriate employees.