Payday is something to look forward to for most people. But for many years, Wilmot K. Jackson greeted it with little enthusiasm. He knew that even after his salary had been paid, it would take days before he accessed it, forcing him to navigate long waits, crowded banks, and unexpected challenges at moments when he needed his money the most. As a civil servant in Liberia, he knew the routine all too well. Salaries would leave the Central Bank, make their way through commercial banks, and then disappear into a maze of delays. Sometimes it took three days before the money was available. Even then, there were long queues at crowded banks, hours spent waiting, and no guarantee of getting paid that day.
“Before, I never had my salary on time,” Wilmot recalls. “You could spend the whole day at the bank and still have to come back later.”
The delays were inconvenient, but one moment showed him how serious the problem could be. When his wife was pregnant with their first child, she was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Around the same time, the government had paid civil servants, including Wilmot. On paper, he had money. But he could not access it right away.
The hospital required an immediate deposit before treatment could begin. Desperate, Wilmot called family members and friends, asking them to help cover the costs while he waited for access to his salary.
Years later, when his second child was born, the experience was completely different. His wife called from the hospital and told him money was needed. This time, Wilmot reached for his phone. Within seconds, he transferred the funds directly to the hospital through mobile money.
“There was no delay,” he says.
That simple moment captures a much bigger story unfolding across Liberia. In 2025, the Central Bank of Liberia accomplished something remarkable. In just 73 days, the country designed, built, and launched a nationwide Inclusive Instant Payment System (IIPS), connecting Liberia’s two largest mobile money operators through a single interoperable platform.
What began as an ambitious vision quickly became reality through close collaboration between the Central Bank of Liberia, AfricaNenda Foundation, system integrator ThitsaWorks, and Mojaloop Foundation. Working side by side, teams tackled technical, operational, and policy challenges in real time, ensuring every detail was adapted to Liberia’s unique context.
We wanted to build a system that could serve all Liberians.
-Mamadee Jabateh, Technical Payment Specialist, AfricaNenda
The first use case focused on government-to-person payments. The impact was immediate for thousands of civil servants like Wilmot K. Jackson. Salaries that once took days to access now arrive in less than a minute, directly into mobile wallets.
“Teachers no longer need to leave classrooms. Nurses no longer need to leave hospitals to go to a bank to cash a cheque. Farmers can receive payments for their produce faster and more transparently,” explained Hon. Henry F. Saamoi, Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia.
The second use case was interoperable person-to-person transfers. Families can send money to loved ones instantly, while businesses can receive payments without costly delays.
Since its launch on December 16th, 2025, the system has processed more than 3.1 million transactions worth over USD 30million. Adoption continues to grow, as more users adopt the service and new possibilities are emerging.
Liberia’s achievement sends a powerful message that Africa does not have a capacity issue, we can build inclusive instant payment systems quickly and design them to serve everyone.
-Sabine F. Mensah, Deputy CEO, AfricaNenda
The journey is far from over. Next, Liberia plans to introduce person-to-government payments, allowing citizens and businesses to pay taxes digitally through the platform.
For Wilmot and tens of thousands of Liberians, the transformation is already tangible. What was once a system defined by waiting has become one defined by instant access, convenience, and opportunity.
