By Hassan Boima
Orange Mobile Finance Sierra Leone has launched the Orange Money Mastercard, a new digital payment solution aimed at expanding access to global financial services and boosting financial inclusion in the country.
The product, introduced in partnership with Mastercard and Zenith Bank Sierra Leone, allows Orange Money users to link their mobile wallets to a virtual Mastercard, enabling secure online payments, international transactions and access to global digital platforms.
Officials said the innovation is designed to address long-standing barriers to card-based payments in Sierra Leone, where access to international debit and credit cards remains limited for much of the population.
The system allows users to make purchases on global e-commerce platforms, pay for subscriptions and conduct cross-border transactions directly from their mobile money accounts.
Orange Mobile Finance said the launch marks a significant step in its broader strategy to deepen financial inclusion and accelerate the country’s transition toward a digitally driven economy.
The initiative builds on Orange’s existing mobile money ecosystem, which already provides services such as transfers, bill payments, savings tools and micro-loans, and is increasingly being positioned as a key driver of financial access in Sierra Leone.
Financial sector stakeholders have previously said such innovations could help expand participation in digital commerce, particularly among young people and small businesses with limited access to traditional banking services.
The launch comes amid growing adoption of mobile money platforms across Sierra Leone and West Africa, where operators are increasingly partnering with global payment networks to bridge gaps in financial infrastructure.
