Freetown: Afrimoney, in partnership with Ecobank Sierra Leone, has launched the Afrimoney Prepaid Visa Card to advance financial inclusion and digital transformation in Sierra Leone. According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the launch ceremony, held at the Bintumani Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown, gathered officials from the Bank of Sierra Leone, government representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, financial sector leaders, and private sector stakeholders. The initiative allows users to link their mobile money wallets to a prepaid Visa card, enabling seamless local and international transactions. The card is expected to widen access to digital financial services for individuals, small businesses, and underserved communities across the country. Speaking at the launch, Afrimoney Chief Executive Officer, Martison Obeng-Agyei, traced the evolution of banking and financial services globally and in Sierra Leone, noting that financial innovation continues to accelerate at an unprecedented pace. He commended th e Bank of Sierra Leone for playing a critical role in advancing financial inclusion through reforms that enabled Visa card usage and mobile money operations in the country. Obeng-Agyei stated that Afrimoney has consistently focused on innovation tailored to the realities of Sierra Leoneans. He referenced products such as Trust Etsa, which enables customers to borrow electricity credit during emergencies, and Trust Fuel, which allows transport operators to access fuel on credit and repay through daily earnings. According to him, the newly launched Afrimoney Ecobank Visa Card was created to bridge the gap between the banked and unbanked population. He explained that the physical card would enable users to conduct transactions online, through ATMs, and at point-of-sale terminals worldwide. He further stressed that mobile money operators and banks should be viewed as partners rather than competitors, highlighting Afrimoney's role in pioneering wallet-to-bank and bank-to-wallet integration in Sierra Leone. He tha nked regulators and development partners for supporting financial innovation and encouraged Sierra Leoneans to obtain the card through Afrimoney's USSD platform. Speaking also, the Managing Director of Ecobank Sierra Leone, Sebastian Ashong-Katai, described the partnership as a symbol of progress, innovation, and opportunity for Sierra Leone. He said customers increasingly demand financial solutions that are simpler, faster, and more aligned with modern lifestyles and transaction habits. Ashong-Katai explained that the partnership connects the strengths of mobile money and traditional banking into a single financial ecosystem. He stated that while mobile money has transformed everyday transactions through accessibility and convenience, traditional banking continues to provide structure, trust, and global financial connectivity. He outlined several practical benefits of the prepaid card, noting that small business owners can now transact with international suppliers more easily, young professionals can subsc ribe to global digital services, and travelers can make cross-border payments with greater convenience. According to him, the initiative goes beyond convenience and directly addresses financial inclusion. The Ecobank Managing Director also praised Africell Sierra Leone for its collaboration and acknowledged the role of regulators in creating an enabling environment through initiatives such as the National Payment Switch. He described the launch as a critical step toward building a modern, cash-light digital economy in Sierra Leone. On his address, the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ibrahim Stevens, described the co-branded prepaid card as a major milestone in the country's journey toward a digitally enabled and resilient financial system. He said the launch demonstrated the power of partnership and innovation in expanding access to modern financial services. The Governor noted that financial inclusion in Sierra Leone has significantly improved over the past decade, rising from less than 20 percent to nearly 40 percent of the population. He added that the National Switch instant payment service surpassed one million transactions within eighteen months of its launch. Despite these gains, he acknowledged that many Sierra Leoneans remain unbanked or underbanked. According to him, linking mobile money wallets with traditional banking infrastructure would help close those gaps by improving convenience, access, and participation in the formal digital economy. Dr. Stevens emphasized that the Bank of Sierra Leone remains committed to transitioning the country toward a cash-light economy, stressing that digital payments are more secure, efficient, transparent, and cost-effective than cash transactions. He added that innovations such as the Afrimoney-Ecobank Visa Card would strengthen financial system resilience while supporting entrepreneurship, employment creation, and economic growth. Delivering the keynote address, Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh described the launch as an example of how technology and governance can work together to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. He stated that the initiative was not only for corporate users and government officials, but also for market women, transport operators, small-scale entrepreneurs, and people in rural communities. The Chief Minister highlighted government investments in digital infrastructure, noting that Sierra Leone now has extensive 3G and 4G coverage across the country, including remote districts. He said the country's regulatory sandbox framework, established through the Bank of Sierra Leone, has also created opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators to test financial products in live environments. He identified device accessibility as one of the remaining challenges to digital inclusion and called for stronger collaboration between government institutions and private sector partners to improve access to affordable digital devices. He further emphasized the concept of 'Techquity,' describing it as the use of technology to promote equity and inclusion for all citizens, including vulnerable and low-income populations. He argued that fintech solutions such as Afrimoney could bridge barriers that traditional banking systems have struggled to overcome. Using practical examples, the Chief Minister explained how small traders could use the platform to import goods directly from international markets, while transport operators and small businesses could build digital transaction histories that may later support access to loans and other financial services. He noted that Afrimoney's transaction records could help create verifiable credit profiles for users, enabling banks and financial institutions to assess creditworthiness more effectively. According to him, this would open pathways for wealth creation and economic independence for many Sierra Leoneans who previously lacked access to formal financial systems. The Chief Minister also revealed that Afrimoney has already processed transactions worth millions of dollars and has played a role in deliverin g financial support to vulnerable populations through partnerships with development institutions. He said the expansion of digital finance services directly contributes to reducing poverty and improving livelihoods. The launch of the Afrimoney Prepaid Visa Card is expected to strengthen Sierra Leone's digital finance ecosystem and accelerate efforts to build an inclusive, technology-driven economy.