By Saidu Kargbo
Freetown, 11th August, 2026 – AfriMoney has today launched a “Next of Kin” service, a system designed to provide a formal process for dealing with customers’ mobile money when an account holder dies or becomes incapacitated. The Launch took place at the Africell Boardroom at Wilberforce in Freetown on 11th August 2026.
Speaking at the launch, the AfriMoney CEO, Martison Obeng-Agyei, explained that the service was developed in response to concerns raised by AfriMoney subscribers about customers’ funds once the customers are either deceased or unavailable for whatever reason.
To be entitled to the Next of Kin funds, the CEO noted that appropriate documentation and proof of death or incapacity would be required before funds could be handed over.
The CEO stressed that AfriMoney operates within regulatory requirements, noting that “customers’ funds cannot simply be handed over to another person without following the appropriate procedures.”
“Remember, we are an organization that is regulated by the Central Bank. That means that we operate within the limits of the regulation as regulated by the Central Bank,” he said.
According to the CEO, the Next of Kin service is intended to give AfriMoney subscribers the ability to identify a person who can be contacted if the account holder dies or becomes unable to manage their wallet. “What we decided to do is to ensure that we give the capability for our AfriMoney subscribers to be able to put their name and details of somebody that they assign as their next of kin,” he said.
Obeng-Agyei emphasized that mobile money wallets should be treated with the same level of seriousness as bank accounts because customers use them to store and transact money.
The CEO also highlighted the importance of customers ensuring that their mobile money accounts are registered with their own correct personal information recorded on their accounts. “Please, do not let your brother, your mother, your father, your sister use their details to register a mobile money wallet for you,” he warned. “These pieces of information ensure that we know at every point in time that we are dealing with the right person.”
Customers were also advised to choose an adult as their next of kin, with the CEO stressing the limitations of assigning a minor. “Please try as much as possible and put the name of somebody who is 18 years and above. That person has legal status,” he said.
The launch, therefore, placed emphasis not only on introducing the Next of Kin service, but also on educating customers about the importance of accurate account information, proper identification and having a clear process for managing funds in circumstances where an account holder is deceased or incapacitated.
