By Alvin Lansana Kargbo
In a groundbreaking move to strengthen financial inclusion and promote digital transactions, Afrimoney and Ecobank Sierra Leone have entered into a strategic partnership that enables customers to make payments using Afrimoney wallets on Ecobank Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals. The official launch took place at Ecobank’s Head Office in Freetown.
It marks the first time in Sierra Leone that mobile money payments can be made directly on POS devices; an innovation expected to significantly broaden access to digital financial services for both consumers and merchants.
Kate Thompson, Head of Consumer Banking at Ecobank Sierra Leone, described the collaboration as a significant milestone in expanding financial access. She explained that while only about 29% of Sierra Leoneans have bank accounts, around 30% use mobile money wallets, two distinct groups that the partnership now unites.
“Before this innovation, only cardholders could use POS machines. Now, Afrimoney wallet holders can make payments instantly and securely on Ecobank POS without needing a bank account,” Kate Thompson stated. She emphasized that the initiative simplifies everyday transactions, from parents paying school fees to students purchasing supplies, while empowering merchants who previously had to turn away customers without cash or cards. She called it “financial inclusion in its purest form.”
Afrimoney Chief Executive Officer, Martison Obeng-Agyei, hailed the partnership as a “forward-looking example of technology serving the public,” he noted, further maintaining that it is the first collaboration of its kind in the country’s financial sector. He revealed plans to soon extend the service to Ecobank ATMs, allowing customers to withdraw mobile money directly, an advancement that will further strengthen interoperability within Sierra Leone’s financial ecosystem.
Martison Obeng-Agyei highlighted that the system ensures instant settlements and seamless payments. “Once a payment is made on an Ecobank POS, the funds are as good as in the merchant’s bank account immediately,” he said. “It removes the hassle of cashing out and re-depositing money.” He added that the solution was carefully developed over time for “quality and longevity,” expressing optimism about further innovations in 2026.
Ecobank Sierra Leone’s Managing Director, Sebastian Ashong Katai, noted that the partnership stemmed from a deliberate decision to collaborate rather than build in isolation. He described Afrimoney as an ideal partner, citing its strong technological base, extensive subscriber network and retail insights.
According to Sebastian Ashong Katai, “Money alone does not create access unless people have the freedom to use it. By enabling mobile wallet payments on POS devices, we’re expanding those freedoms and empowering customers to transact anywhere.” He further aligned the initiative with the Government and the Bank of Sierra Leone’s broader digital financial transformation agenda, emphasizing that true progress in the financial sector depends on collaboration and interoperability, not competition.
The Afrimoney–Ecobank partnership thus represents a major leap toward bridging the gap between traditional banking and mobile money services. It offers Sierra Leoneans a secure, convenient and inclusive way to transact; reflecting both institutions’ shared commitment to digital transformation and nationwide financial inclusion.
With this milestone development, customers can now use their Afrimoney wallets to make payments across Ecobank’s POS network, ushering in a new era of digital convenience for businesses and consumers alike.
