The Government of Sierra Leone has intensified its fight against the growing threat of mobile money fraud by convening a two-day National Consultative Workshop aimed at developing a comprehensive national roadmap to strengthen the security of the country's rapidly expanding digital financial ecosystem.

The high-level workshop, organised by the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI) in partnership with the National Communications Authority (NatCA), commenced on 18 August at the NatCA Headquarters in South Ridge, IMATT, and concludes on 19 August. The initiative brings together key stakeholders from the financial, telecommunications, cybersecurity, law enforcement, and public sectors in what officials describe as a landmark national effort to combat cyber-enabled financial crimes.

The consultative forum represents a coordinated government response to the increasing incidence of mobile money fraud and other forms of cybercrime that threaten public confidence in digital financial services. As Sierra Leone continues its digital transformation and financial inclusion agenda, authorities say safeguarding electronic transactions has become a national priority.

The opening session attracted senior representatives from the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL), National Communications Authority (NatCA), National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC), National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), the Parliamentary Committee on Information and Communication Technology, mobile money operators, telecommunications companies, government ministries, civil society organisations, security agencies, and private sector institutions.

The broad participation underscores Government's commitment to fostering strong collaboration among regulators, financial institutions, telecom operators, cybersecurity experts, and law enforcement agencies to develop effective strategies for preventing, detecting, and responding to digital financial crimes.

According to organisers, the national roadmap being developed during the workshop will serve as a strategic blueprint for strengthening consumer protection, enhancing cybersecurity resilience, improving fraud detection and incident response, reinforcing regulatory coordination, and promoting greater public awareness of mobile money security.

The initiative also fulfils a commitment made by Government to Parliament following recent deliberations on Sierra Leone's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and interoperable digital identity systems. During those engagements, Government pledged to convene a broad-based national consultation to ensure all relevant institutions could jointly address emerging threats to the country's digital financial infrastructure.

Officials noted that mobile money has become an indispensable financial tool for millions of Sierra Leoneans, providing convenient access to savings, domestic remittances, bill payments, business transactions, and other essential financial services. However, the rapid expansion of digital financial services has also created opportunities for fraudsters and cybercriminals to exploit unsuspecting users through scams, identity theft, and other fraudulent schemes.

Government believes that the successful implementation of the proposed roadmap will significantly strengthen institutional coordination, improve information sharing, enhance consumer protection, and reinforce confidence in Sierra Leone's digital economy.

At the conclusion of the workshop, stakeholders are expected to adopt key recommendations that will guide national policy reforms, strengthen cybersecurity governance, improve regulatory enforcement, and establish a coordinated framework for tackling mobile money fraud across the country.

The initiative marks another significant milestone in Sierra Leone's digital transformation journey, reflecting Government's determination to build a secure, resilient, and trusted digital financial ecosystem that protects consumers while supporting innovation, financial inclusion, and sustainable economic growth.