By way of accelerating its digital and mobile money transfer drive across the country and beyond, Orange Sierra Leone has Tuesday 13th December 2022 symbolically opened its new Orange Money SL headquarters during an impressive unveiling ceremony hosted at Hill Station in Freetown. The opening of Orange Money SL new edifice brought together the telecommunication sector regulators National Telecommunication Authority, the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, commercial banks managers and executives from across the board, key private and public sector players in the financial service delivery and banking industry.
Speaking to staff, guest and the media present at the occasion, before declaring the facility officially opened, the Chief Executive Officer of Orange SL, Sekou Amadou Bah recalled that Orange Money SL was formerly incorporated into the Orange SL’s operations as part of the network’s digital and mobile cash transfer scheme in 2016. He observed that access to digital and mobile finance remains a challenging dream for so many people. “We must focus our efforts on those who are left out”, vowed Orange SL CEO. Bah informed that Orange Money SL service has grown and it will continue to grow with a larger customer base, especially in the areas of micro-loans and remittances. He said Orange Money SL has its own building in accordance with the BSL regulations, calling on the Governor of the Central Bank to keep reforming the mobile and digital cash transfer landscape in firm support of financial inclusion policy guidelines. He profusely thanked the Governor of the BSL for his relentless support to Orange Money SL mobile and digital cash transfer drive, adding that Orange Money SL has grown and it will continue to grow.
The CEO Orange Money SL David Mansaray vividly reflected on the long journey of the scheme to the introduction of Orange Money, saying that having worked with the Standard Charted Bank for fifteen years, he did a survey that saw the urgent need for closure of the gap between banks and rural communities. Mansaray said that it was very difficult to open bank accounts by then as most of the households were without mobile phones and mobile money was in limited use. He said that there was a need for more access mobile money, adding that it was out such studies that they set their goals, changed their software platforms and engaged in massive public education across the country. Mansaray further disclosed that Orange Money SL as at now has partnered with eleven commercial banks, local and international organizations and is reaching out to more than two hundred thousand people as well as twelve thousand active agents.
The Orange Money CEO said as a the largest cash transfer platform, they have also introduced innovative products including remittances, Lajoh etc., explaining that before now only Orange SL subscribers were able to use Orange Money, and reassured that other network subscribers can now use Orange Money. He paid worthy credits to past and present CEOs for their support to Orange Money, and commended the leadership of the Central Bank of Sierra Leone. Mansaray informed that a mobile money account can now be opened with just an identity card.
For his part, the Governor BSL, Prof Kaifala Kallon said Orange Money is how progress and development takes place in society. He therefore encouraged mobile companies not to rest on their laurels but to do more in reaching out to subscribers across the country and beyond.
The Director General of the National Telecommunication Authority, Daniel Bobson Kaitibi said he cannot afford to see mobile companies die. He informed that Africell Sierra Leone and Orange SL have both presented requests to the authority asking for the installations of Fifth Generation 5G networks. Kaitibi disclosed that the telecommunication sector pays more taxes than the mining sector. “We will continue to work in closed collaboration with the BSL to provide a business friendly atmosphere in the country,” he promised, and noted that the more penetration the more coverage that will be provided by the mobile companies. Kaitibi said his authority stopped promotions to increase revenue base which precipitated increased in coverage.
