17/12/2025
Keynote Address Delivered By
His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
President of the Republic of Liberia
On the Occasion of the Launch of the Instant Inclusive Payment System (IIPS)
Under the Auspices of the
Central Bank of Liberia (CBL)
EJS Ministerial Complex
Oldest Congo Town, Liberia
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Sponsors of this Program for Helping us Achieve this much;
Thanks to the Executive Governor and the Minister of Finance;
My Fellow Liberians;
Distinguished Guests;
Development Partners;
Members of the Press;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Today, we gather to celebrate a national milestone—a bold step toward a modern, inclusive financial system. With the launch of the Instant Inclusive Payment System, Liberia declares to the world that we are ready to embrace the future of digital finance.
This is not just a technological achievement; it is a statement of intent, a promise to our people that progress will not leave them behind.
This matters a lot because in every corner of our country — from bustling Monrovia to the quiet villages of this country — our citizens deserve the same opportunity to participate in the economy. They deserve to send and receive money instantly, securely, and affordably. They deserve dignity in transactions, transparency in government payments, and trust in the financial system.
When we launched the ARREST Agenda, we committed to transforming Liberia through Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. Today’s launch is a powerful enabler of that vision in many spheres of our Agenda, including:
• Agriculture: Farmers will no longer wait days or weeks for payments. With Instant Inclusive Payment System, they can receive funds instantly, invest in seeds and tools, and keep their businesses growing.
• Roads: As we build roads to connect communities physically, the Instant Inclusive Payment System builds digital highways to connect them financially.
• Rule of Law: Transparency is justice. By digitizing government payments — salaries, pensions, social transfers — we reduce leakages, eliminate delays, and strengthen trust in public institutions.
• Education: Students and schools can pay fees and receive support without barriers. Knowledge flows best when financial access is unhindered.
• Sanitation and Tourism: Entrepreneurs in these sectors will benefit from faster payments, fueling growth and innovation.
This is how technology becomes a servant of development. This is how digital transformation accelerates inclusive growth.
Let me be clear: financial inclusion is not a privilege; it is a right. For too long, millions of Liberians have been excluded from the formal financial system. They have relied on cash — risky, costly, and inconvenient. Today, we say: No Liberian should be left behind. No community should be excluded. No dream should be delayed because of distance or lack of access.
The Instant & Inclusive Payment System opens the door to opportunity. It empowers market women to receive payments without fear of theft. It enables small businesses to transact in real time. It gives our youth the tools to innovate, to create apps and services that will ride on this platform. It is the bridge from exclusion to empowerment.
Through the Instant Inclusive Payment System government payments will be delivered instantly, transparently, and efficiently. Salaries for civil servants, social transfers for vulnerable households, and payments to contractors will no longer be trapped in bureaucratic delays. This is governance at its best—responsive, accountable, and people-centered.
By reducing reliance on cash and enabling real-time transactions, we create an environment where businesses thrive and innovation flourishes. Digital payments reduce costs, increase speed, and build trust. They attract investment and stimulate entrepreneurship. They make Liberia competitive in a global economy that rewards speed and efficiency.
The brand we unveil today— crafting an Instant and Inclusive Liberia. — is more than a name; it is a declaration of ownership. This system belongs to the nation. It serves everyone—rich or poor, urban or rural, young or old. It is a Liberian solution to a Liberian challenge, built through collaboration and powered by vision.
This achievement did not happen by chance. It is the result of strong collaboration between the Central Bank of Liberia, financial institutions, mobile money operators, and development partners.
To all of you, I say thank you. You have shown that when we work together, we can overcome barriers and deliver solutions that transform lives.
Let us be clear, however, that this is just the beginning. The launch of IIPS is the first chapter in a larger story — a story of digital transformation that reaches every corner of Liberia. We will continue to expand digital financial services, integrate new technologies, and ensure that no one is left behind.
Imagine a Liberia where every farmer, every teacher, every entrepreneur can transact instantly. Imagine a Liberia where government payments are transparent, businesses are competitive, and citizens are empowered. That is the Liberia we are building. That is the promise of the Instant Inclusive Payment System.
So today, I call on all Liberians — individuals, businesses, and institutions — to embrace this change. Use the system. Trust the system. Innovate on the system.
Let us make the Instant Inclusive Payment System not just a platform, but a movement — a movement for inclusion, for empowerment, for progress.
Let us remember: development is not a spectator sport. It requires participation. It requires ownership. It requires all of us.
As we launch the Instant Inclusive Payment System, let us reaffirm our commitment to the ARREST Agenda, to financial inclusion, and to the prosperity of every Liberian.
Together, we can build a nation wherein opportunity is not a privilege for the few, but a right for all.
May God bless the Central Bank of Liberia for its leadership. May God bless our partners for their support.
May God bless the Republic of Liberia as we march boldly into a future of digital empowerment.
Thank you.
