MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberia on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, entered a new phase of its financial and digital transformation with the official launch of the Inclusive Instant Payment System (IIPS), popularly branded “Pay Na-Na,” a national digital platform that enables instant, interoperable electronic payments across mobile money operators, banks, and government institutions.
The system, launched at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, is regulated and supervised by the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and allows real-time transfers between MTN MoMo and Orange Money, with full integration of commercial banks, fintech providers, and government payment systems expected in subsequent phases.
The high-level event brought together President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Central Bank Executive Governor Henry F. Saamoi, senior government officials, executives of mobile network operators, commercial banks, and development partners including the World Bank, AfricaNenda Foundation, Mojaloop Foundation, ThitsaWorks, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Officials described Pay Na-Na as a transformational national infrastructure that will reduce Liberia’s dependence on cash, increase transaction efficiency, expand financial inclusion, improve transparency in public payments, and strengthen domestic revenue mobilization.
At its core, the IIPS platform enables instant, secure, and low-cost transactions between different financial service providers—ending the long-standing challenge where Liberians were forced to carry multiple mobile phones or wallets to send money across networks. With the new system, users can now send and receive money seamlessly, regardless of service provider.
The Central Bank said the launch represents a significant milestone in Liberia’s efforts to modernize its national payments infrastructure, aligning the country with more than 25 African nations that have already adopted inclusive instant payment systems.
A live demonstration during the ceremony—featuring President Boakai and Governor Saamoi—showed funds moving instantly between MTN MoMo and Orange Money wallets, formally activating the system for public use.
International partners praised Liberia’s rapid implementation. AfricaNenda Foundation, which supports instant payment systems across Africa, disclosed that Liberia completed the rollout in just 73 days, a process that often takes several months or years in comparable countries.
The system is built on open-source digital infrastructure using the Mojaloop platform, ensuring competition, interoperability, and sustainability rather than vendor lock-in. Officials emphasized that Pay Na-Na is a public digital good, owned by Liberia and operated in the public interest.
Beyond individual transfers, the IIPS is expected to support Government-to-Person (G2P) payments such as salaries, social benefits, and stipends; Person-to-Government (P2G) payments including taxes, fees, and licenses; and Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions for businesses and market vendors.
Economists and banking experts say the system could significantly improve transparency and reduce leakages in public finance by digitizing government disbursements and collections. It is also expected to improve security by reducing the risks associated with cash handling.
While the formal speeches focused on policy and economic impact, the event was also punctuated by light moments from Masters of Ceremony Cyrus Badio and renowned comedian “Professor” Joseph Dean, whose humor helped keep the audience engaged while underscoring the everyday relevance of the new system to ordinary Liberians.
Officials stressed that the success of Pay Na-Na will depend on public adoption, strong consumer protection, cybersecurity safeguards, and continued collaboration between regulators, banks, telecom operators, and development partners.
As Liberia pushes forward under President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, the launch of Pay Na-Na stands as one of the most concrete demonstrations yet of the government’s commitment to digital inclusion, economic efficiency, and financial empowerment.
