By Davida-Spaine Solomon
Freetown, 5th August, 2026 –Ecobank and Africell have launched a smartphone financing scheme that will enable customers to purchase genuine Samsung smartphones through flexible payment plans of up to 24 months, a move aimed at advancing digital and financial inclusion across the country.
Speaking at the launch, Africell’s Device Manager, Leon Obeng Nkonsah, said the financing scheme addresses one of the biggest challenges facing many Sierra Leoneans is the high cost of smartphones. “As an authorized reseller of Samsung smartphones in Sierra Leone, Africell is committed to providing customers with genuine devices, trusted after-sales support and reliable connectivity,” he said.
Also discussing the Financing Scheme, Head of Consumer and Commercial Banking at Ecobank Sierra Leone, Kate Thompson, stated that it is particularly beneficial during the rainy season when customers can conveniently access banking and financial services remotely. She added that the smartphone financing scheme builds on the existing partnership between Africell and Ecobank, which recently introduced the Afrimoney Visa prepaid card, stating that customers could now visit any Africell outlet or Ecobank branch to begin the financing process for a Samsung smartphone.
Thompson described the initiative as a strategic partnership that aligned with the shared goal of both institutions to improve lives through greater access to digital services.
Although millions of mobile phones are in use across Sierra Leone, she said, many people still could not afford smartphones. The financing arrangement, she explained, removed the need for customers to pay the full purchase price upfront.
“A smartphone today is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity,” she said, emphasizing that smartphones are key to expanding financial inclusion by bringing banking, mobile money and other digital services closer to users.
She further disclosed that the financing package is available not only to individuals but also to businesses seeking smartphones for employees to enhance productivity and improve access to digital banking services.
The initiative, unveiled at a joint launch ceremony attended by senior officials from both institutions, seeks to remove the high upfront cost of smartphones, allowing eligible customers to spread payments over two years while gaining access to digital services, mobile banking and online opportunities.
Delivering the welcome address, Africell’s Digital Marketing Supervisor and Digital Pillar Lead, Fatmata Jaria Bah, said the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to making digital technology more affordable and accessible. She noted that Africell has consistently worked to reduce barriers to smartphone ownership, including previous price reductions on Samsung devices.
Bah thanked Ecobank, the media and Africell’s management for supporting the initiative, describing the partnership as a significant milestone in expanding access to digital solutions.
Africell’s Device Manager Leon Obeng Nkonsah also noted that smartphones have become essential for accessing education, healthcare information, digital financial services, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and communication. He said increasing smartphone ownership would enable more Sierra Leoneans to participate in the country’s growing digital economy.
AfriMoney Chief Executive Officer, Martison Obeng Agyei, said the collaboration reflected the growing convergence between the telecommunications and banking sectors as digital technology continues to reshape how people access services.
He noted that mobile phones have become central to mobile money, internet access, healthcare, education and communication. “The mobile phone is the most used screen in the world today. It has created employment, facilitated healthcare, supported education and transformed communication,” Agyei said.
The initiative is expected to accelerate Sierra Leone’s digital transformation by increasing smartphone ownership and expanding access to financial technology, online services and digital opportunities for individuals and businesses.
