Afrimoney and Freetown City Council (FCC) today sealed a public private partnership to digitize the payment of property rates and business licenses, making it easier than ever for residents and businesses to fulfill their civic obligations from the comfort of their phones.
The initiative will eliminate the need for long queues and physical visits to payment centers, ushering in a new era of convenience, transparency, and accountability in local revenue collection.
The partnership forms part of Afrimoney’s mission to digitize everyday financial transactions, while helping FCC strengthen its revenue base and deliver better public services. With this system, users can pay their fees anytime, anywhere, simply by dialing *161211125# on their Africell SIM. The platform even supports bulk payments, allowing institutions and businesses to manage multiple transactions efficiently.
Afrimoney CEO Martinson Obeng-Agyei described the move as a “major leap forward” in civic engagement and digital transformation.
“The era of traveling to make payments is over. Afrimoney is here to make life simpler, faster, and more transparent. Paying your taxes digitally saves time, promotes accountability, and strengthens community development,” he said.
Echoing this, Africell CEO Shadi Al-Gerjawi said that the integration of civic payments into Afrimoney’s ecosystem reflects the platform’s growing role in Sierra Leone’s digital economy.
“Afrimoney has already simplified how people pay for food, fuel, and transport. Extending this to tax payments makes perfect sense—it empowers citizens while ensuring that every cent collected directly supports public services,” he stated.
For Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, the partnership marks a milestone in FCC’s ongoing digital transformation agenda. She noted that FCC’s earlier digitization efforts—using satellite imagery to catalogue properties and issue electronic demand notices—laid the groundwork for this breakthrough.
“By bringing the bank to residents’ phones, we’re removing barriers and ensuring that everyone, including those in remote areas, can conveniently meet their civic responsibilities. These payments fund key city initiatives like sanitation, infrastructure, and waste management,” she explained.
The mayor also linked the initiative to FCC’s “Dorti Mus Go” campaign, highlighting that digital payments will support enforcement and compliance efforts by ensuring timely revenue flow for essential services.
Beyond convenience, the digitization of tax payments through Afrimoney enhances efficiency, transparency, and financial security, reducing the risk of leakages and promoting public trust in local governance, Agyei stated.
Freetown residents and business owners are encouraged to leverage Afrimoney for their property rate and business license payments, supporting the city’s vision of a cleaner, smarter, and more financially sustainable capital.
