Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh has highlighted the current government’s rapid success in implementing the National Payment Switch (NPS), while explicitly stating that the previous All People’s Congress (APC) administration failed to deliver the project twice, resulting in lost funds and corruption cases.
Writing about the country’s transformation of financial inclusion, Sengeh detailed the current status of the switch, highlighting that nearly one million Sierra Leoneans are now registered on its Instant Payment Service (IPS).
He framed the achievement as a fulfillment of a pledge in the National Development Plan and a key driver in the country’s efforts to double financial inclusion.
However, the Chief Minister coupled the progress report with a sharp political critique. He explicitly stated that the previous APC government had attempted to implement the National Payment Switch on two separate occasions, but both efforts ended in failure.
“It must be noted that the APC government tried to implement the National Payment Switch twice and they failed each time,” Sengeh wrote, alleging the attempts resulted in a “loss of World Bank money and several corruption cases.”
The National Payment Switch is designed to create a central platform connecting banks, mobile money operators, and fintech companies, allowing for seamless digital transactions. According to data from the Bank of Sierra Leone cited by Sengeh, all 13 commercial banks and major mobile money operators are now connected to the system.
Since its launch in February 2025, the switch has processed 425,058 transactions worth an estimated $16 million, signaling rapid public adoption.
The government asserts that the project is transforming financial access for ordinary citizens. Sengeh outlined benefits including allowing businesses to receive payments through multiple channels, enabling individuals to consolidate funds from different sources, and creating a pathway for the diaspora to send money directly to recipients anywhere in Sierra Leone.
Phase three of the project, which will connect Sierra Leone to an international payment gateway, is reported to be on track for delivery in 2026.
The Chief Minister’s comments mark a direct effort to contrast the current administration’s record on digital finance with that of its predecessors, turning a technical milestone into a point of political contention.
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