Africell and Mikashboks Launch “Save to Buy” to Make Smartphones More Affordable in Sierra Leone
By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
In a move set to boost financial inclusion and digital access across Sierra Leone, Africell, in partnership with local fintech company Mikashboks, has launched “Save to Buy” a new digital savings initiative that enables customers to gradually save towards essential products like smartphones without the burden of paying upfront.
The unveiling ceremony, held at Africell’s headquarters in Wilberforce, Freetown, brought together media professionals, Africell executives, and representatives from Mikashboks to showcase how the platform works and its potential to transform digital access for thousands of Sierra Leoneans.
In her opening remarks, Fatmata J. Bah, speaking on behalf of Africell, thanked the media and partners for their ongoing support. She emphasized Africell’s commitment to delivering practical, customer-focused solutions that promote wider access to technology.
We are always looking for new ways to work with our customers and partners. ‘Save to Buy’ is an exciting innovation that will give people access to essential products in a flexible and affordable way,” she said.
Rashidatu Sankoh from Mikashboks explained that the initiative is designed for people who dream of owning modern smartphones but can’t afford to pay the full cost at once.
Many of us want the best gadgets for work, studies, or content creation, but we cannot afford full payment at once. With Save to Buy, you can save little by little, starting from as low as Le 50 per week, and still achieve your goals without debt, loans, or hidden charges,” she said.
Kelvin Logan, Mikashboks Customer Support Officer, noted that their savings app, in operation since 2018 and regulated by the Bank of Sierra Leone, supports both individual and group savings, modeled after traditional “osusu” systems. He added that over 20,000 users from students and traders to professionals have already benefited from the platform.
This partnership with Africell takes our impact to the next level by merging digital savings with access to life-enhancing products,” he stated.
Joe Abass Bangura, Africell’s Chief Corporate Affairs Manager, emphasized that smartphones are no longer luxuries but essentials for everyday life from education and business to communication and commerce.
A smartphone is a classroom, a bank, a marketplace, and a bridge to opportunities. Save to Buy allows our customers to own these tools stress-free and embrace digital life for personal and economic growth,” he said.
To make the process even easier, John Konteh, Director of Afrimoney, demonstrated how users can activate the service by dialing *352# to link their Afrimoney wallet with Mikashboks. He also announced special offers, including 10% cashback for early users, which can be redeemed for airtime or mobile data.
The “Save to Buy” platform represents a major leap toward empowering low- and middle-income earners by promoting financial discipline, building savings culture, and increasing access to essential digital tools. Africell and Mikashboks reaffirmed their shared vision of improving lives through innovative financial solutions and inclusive technology.
