By Joseph Momoh
D.S Reporter
FREETOWN – The Government of Sierra Leone has launched a national effort to curb mobile money fraud with a two-day consultative workshop aimed at developing a comprehensive roadmap to secure the country’s digital financial ecosystem.
The Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, in collaboration with the National Communications Authority, convened the workshop to bring together regulators, financial institutions, telecom operators and other key stakeholders.
Participants included representatives from the Financial Intelligence Agency, Bank of Sierra Leone, National Cybersecurity Coordination Center, National Civil Registration Authority, Parliamentary Committee on ICT, mobile money operators, telecommunications companies, civil society organizations, government institutions and the private sector.
Officials said the broad engagement is designed to strengthen coordination among all actors responsible for preventing, detecting and responding to fraud in mobile financial services as the country expands its digital economy.
The workshop fulfills a commitment made to Parliament following recent discussions on digital public infrastructure and interoperable digital identity systems. Government said a coordinated response is urgently needed given the rising cases of cyber fraud targeting mobile money users.
The roadmap under development is expected to provide clear mechanisms for protecting Sierra Leoneans who depend on mobile financial services for savings, remittances and daily transactions. It will also outline improved safeguards, data sharing protocols and enforcement measures to build public trust in digital platforms.
Authorities stressed that restoring and maintaining confidence in mobile money services is critical to the growth of the digital economy. The initiative, they noted, will focus on prevention, rapid detection, and effective response to fraud and other forms of cybercrime.
The Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation said recommendations from the workshop will guide policy and regulatory actions to strengthen the security and integrity of Sierra Leone’s digital financial services.
For more information contact
Daily Scope Newspaper at
dailyscopemedia@gmail.com
