Afrimoney has officially partnered with the Freetown City Council (FCC) to enable residents and businesses to pay property rates and business licenses digitally, eliminating the need for physical visits to payment points. The partnership was launched on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the FCC offices in Freetown.
The collaboration forms part of Afrimoney’s broader mission to digitize financial transactions, allowing citizens to pay anytime, anywhere, while reducing dependence on cash. It also supports FCC’s objective to improve revenue collection, enhance service delivery, and streamline civic payments across the city.
Speaking at the launch, Martinson Obeng-Agyei, CEO of Afrimoney, emphasized that the era of physically moving to pay civic fees is over. “Afrimoney exists to power the digital transformation everyone aspires to,” he said. Developed jointly with FCC’s technology and finance teams, the platform enables users to pay their property rates and business licenses directly from their phones at any time.
To make a payment, he explained, citizens need an Africell SIM registered on Afrimoney and can dial 16121112*5# to enter their property or business license details. The system also supports bulk payments, offering added convenience for organizations and local authorities. Obeng-Agyei noted that the platform is designed to compete with cash, saving users time while promoting responsible civic engagement through timely tax payments.
Africell Sierra Leone CEO Shadi Al-Gerjawi described Afrimoney as a platform designed to replicate—and surpass—the convenience of cash. He explained that Afrimoney has been integrated into daily life, from buying essentials and paying for transport to fueling at petrol stations and settling bills at restaurants. Adding FCC payments, he said, is a natural progression that enables residents and businesses to fulfill civic obligations with ease.
“Efficient tax collection funds essential services, from clean streets to public infrastructure. Now, payments can be made remotely, just like paying other fees,” Al-Gerjawi stated. He encouraged both individuals and businesses, regardless of payment size, to join the platform.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr hailed the partnership as a milestone in simplifying civic responsibilities, particularly for residents in hard-to-reach areas. She linked the launch to FCC’s ongoing sanitation drive, Dorti Mus Go, noting that 700 enforcement officers are actively sensitizing communities about compliance with the new by-law.
The Mayor also highlighted FCC’s earlier digitization efforts, which began in 2019–2020 using satellite imagery to catalogue properties and issue demand notices. While previous cashless payment options were limited to FCC’s banking hall, the Afrimoney partnership removes these barriers—effectively bringing the bank to residents’ phones. She stressed that digital payment access ensures residents can meet obligations promptly, supporting citywide initiatives such as sanitation and infrastructure development.
The launch underscores FCC’s commitment to modernizing municipal services while promoting compliance and efficiency in revenue collection. Residents and businesses are encouraged to leverage Afrimoney to pay their property rates and business licenses, marking a significant step toward a fully digitized financial system for Freetown.
