Liberia to launch IIPS, enabling cross-network money transfer

MONROVIA — Liberia is preparing to launch one of the most significant upgrades to its national financial infrastructure in years, as the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) confirms that direct person-to-person transfers between Orange Money and MTN Mobile Money will go live in the coming weeks — a milestone expected to accelerate the country’s shift toward a cashless economy.

The new service is powered by the Inclusive Instant Payment System (IIPS), a nationwide digital platform enabling real-time transfers across banks, mobile money networks, and fintech providers. Once fully operational, customers of both mobile operators will be able to send and receive money instantly, 24/7, throughout the year.

CBL officials say the initiative will eliminate long-standing barriers in Liberia’s payment ecosystem, cutting transfer delays, lowering costs, and giving consumers and businesses faster, safer, and more reliable financial tools. Small and medium-sized enterprises, which make up the backbone of local commerce, are expected to benefit from improved cash flow and reduced transaction friction.

President Joseph N. Boakai is scheduled to officially launch the IIPS on December 16, 2025, a move the CBL describes as a critical turning point in Liberia’s financial modernization agenda.

“This is not just a technological upgrade,” Deputy Governor for Operations James Wilfred told journalists at a media workshop ahead of the launch. “It ensures that every citizen, whether in an urban center or a remote community, can send and receive money instantly and safely.”

Miatta Kuteh, Director of Payment Systems, stated that the platform was designed to enable seamless interoperability across multiple payment channels, starting with mobile money operators and later expanding to banks and other financial institutions. She mentioned that the system is already in use for government salary payments and will now be extended to the broader mobile money ecosystem.

With this rollout, Liberia joins over twenty African countries adopting modern instant-payment systems, a trend designed to enhance financial inclusion, increase transparency, and build public trust in digital financial services.

CBL officials emphasized the essential role of public awareness, urging the media to help inform citizens about how the system works and how it will reshape payment practices nationwide.

The IIPS launch is expected to act as a significant catalyst for innovation in the financial sector, encouraging payment service providers to create new consumer-friendly products and expand secure digital services to millions of Liberians.