By: G. Bennie Bravo Johnson, I
The Central Bank of Liberia is expected to launch an Inclusive Instant Payment System (IIPS) that will serve as the National Electronic Payment Switch, connecting mobile money service providers, banks, and other financial institutions, including financial technology companies. The National Digital Platform, overseen by the Central Bank, will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is a policy-driven information system designed to bridge the financial gap that currently exists among mobile money service providers and promote a more integrated and efficient digital payment environment.
The initiative, which is scheduled to launch on December 16, 2025, was disclosed to journalists and partners during a one-day workshop held on Friday, November 28, 2025, at the Central Bank of Liberia. The IIPS is intended to strengthen trust in mobile banking and will be rolled out in phases. Phase one will include, but is not limited to, person-to-person transactions, government-to-person transfers, person-to-merchant payments, and person-to-government transactions. CBL Deputy Governor James Wilfred described the IIPS as a national real-time payment infrastructure designed to support fast, secure, low-cost, and universally accessible digital payments, especially for people who are unbanked or underbanked. He emphasized that the system is not a single global standard but part of a broader model increasingly adopted by countries seeking to expand financial inclusion through digital public infrastructure.
He further explained that the IIPS brings financial relief to market women, rural populations, and small business owners by offering an instant, safe way to pay suppliers without carrying cash. This innovation reduces transportation costs, saves time, and eliminates many of the long trips people take to banks or payment centers. Across Africa, the Inclusive Instant Payment System is emerging as a transformative element of digital public infrastructure, supporting instant, low-cost, and widely accessible financial transactions. Systems such as Ghana’s GhIPSS Instant Pay, Rwanda’s eKash, Kenya’s mobile-money–driven real-time transfers, and regional interoperability efforts within the West African Monetary Zone demonstrate how African countries are building fast-payment platforms that work across banks, mobile money networks, and fintechs, while also extending services to users with basic phones and limited internet access.
Evidence from these African implementations shows that IIPS plays a critical role in expanding financial inclusion by enabling unbanked and underbanked populations to send and receive money securely through USSD codes, QR payments, or mobile money wallets. Low fees encourage adoption among market women, shop owners, transport operators, and micro-entrepreneurs, while interoperability minimizes fragmentation and allows seamless transactions between different service providers. This shift from cash-based exchanges supports the growth of small enterprises and deepens overall participation in formal financial systems.
In Liberia, the introduction of the IIPS is expected to enhance economic efficiency and strengthen governance. Instant digital payment rails will allow the government to deliver social benefits and emergency payments quickly and transparently, reducing leakages and administrative costs. Businesses will benefit from faster settlements and improved cash flow, while regulators gain better visibility into financial transactions, thereby improving consumer protection and overall financial stability. By creating an accessible and interconnected payment ecosystem, Liberia’s IIPS positions the country to join other African nations in modernizing financial services, promoting inclusive economic growth, and laying the foundation for a more integrated and digitally driven economy.
