Afrimoney has launched a Next of Kin Service aimed at helping customers protect funds held in their mobile money wallets and enabling their families to obtain essential account information in the event of death or incapacity.
The service was unveiled on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, at Africell’s headquarters in Wilberforce, Freetown. Afrimoney Chief Executive Officer Martison Obeng Agyei said the initiative establishes a formal procedure for handling customers’ wallets when account holders are no longer able to manage them.
According to him, requesting next of kin information is consistent with practices across regulated institutions, where individuals are commonly required to nominate a trusted person when opening bank accounts, completing employment documents or accessing other formal services.
He explained that an Afrimoney wallet functions similarly to a bank account and may contain significant funds. The company therefore considered it necessary to introduce a reliable mechanism through which a designated person could receive relevant information about a customer’s wallet if the account holder dies or becomes incapacitated.
“The Next of Kin feature allows customers to nominate a person who can be contacted and provided with information about their Afrimoney wallet in circumstances where the account holder is no longer available,” Martison Obeng Agyei explained.
The CEO, however, clarified that registration as a next of kin does not automatically authorise the nominated individual to withdraw or receive money from another person’s wallet.
He said that when a wallet holder dies, Afrimoney will require appropriate legal documentation confirming an individual’s authority to administer the deceased customer’s estate before any funds can be released.
The nominated next of kin may assist the family by obtaining relevant financial information and facilitating the legal process required to access funds held in the deceased person’s wallet.
Martison Obeng Agyei urged customers to ensure that the personal information attached to their accounts is accurate and regularly updated. He advised customers to provide their full names, correctly spelt details and current addresses to help Afrimoney verify account ownership and ensure that wallet-related transactions are handled with the appropriate individual.
Customers were also encouraged to review their next of kin information periodically and update it whenever their personal or family circumstances change.
The Afrimoney CEO cautioned customers against nominating children or people who may lack the legal capacity to participate in the administration of an estate. He recommended choosing a trusted person who is at least 18 years old and capable of taking part in the necessary legal procedures.
He further advised customers not to ignore the service simply because they currently have little or no money in their wallets. Financial circumstances, he noted, can change over time, making it important for every customer to nominate someone who could assist their family in the future.
Martison Obeng Agyei also reminded customers that funds left unclaimed for a specified period may be subject to regulatory procedures governing their transfer. He therefore encouraged account holders to make proper arrangements that would enable their families to establish their entitlement and follow the required process when necessary.
The launch forms part of Afrimoney’s broader efforts to strengthen customer protection and establish a transparent process for managing wallets when account holders become unavailable.
Martison Obeng Agyei called on the media to support public education about the initiative. He also encouraged Afrimoney customers to access their wallet settings and complete their next of kin details.
He said the service is ultimately intended to assure customers that, in the event of death or incapacity, their families will be able to obtain necessary information and pursue the appropriate legal process to access any funds held in their wallets.
