GBARNGA, Bong County – The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) has launched its nationwide financial education campaign and the promotion of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) in Bong County, bringing practical money management lessons and modern cross-border transaction tools to residents.
The three-day program, held from August 4–6 at the Bong County Administrative Building, featured a “training of trainers” workshop, a vibrant county launch, and a series of cultural performances and interactive lectures. More than 400 participants — including county officials, students, women’s groups, youth leaders, businesspeople, and religious figures — attended the event.
Thirteen participants completed the intensive two-day training, receiving certificates to mark their new role as community-level financial educators. They will be tasked with spreading knowledge on budgeting, saving, investing, and responsible money habits across Bong County’s towns and villages.
Launching the program, Maraline Tokpa Jawo, Human Resource Manager in the Office of the Bong County Superintendent, called the initiative a “blessing” for local communities.
“Gbarnga is not Bong County,” she said. “Our people in the districts deserve the same information. I want to charge those trained to seize every opportunity so all of us can be informed and able to save. Education is power – let’s use it.”
CBL Communications Director and chair of the Financial Education Working Group, Cllr. P. Alphonsus Zeon, urged residents to work with the trainers. “These are your own children who have been trained to equip you with financial education. We want you to cooperate with them as they roll out Financial Education in your communities,” he said.
Trainees pledged to begin sessions in churches, schools, farms, and marketplaces. One of them, Joseph Kollie, said, “We will make sure the message reaches everywhere, including where we worship. The church will be where I start teaching people how to manage their income.”
The program earned strong support from local leaders. Liberia’s Arts and Cultural Ambassador, Kerkura Kamara, pledged his office’s backing by mobilizing grassroots participation, organizing soccer matches, and reviving the Bong County culture troupe.
Village Saving and Loan Association head Matthew D. Kollie vowed to integrate financial education into his members’ activities. Rural women’s leader Lydia Zeze described the initiative as “a great opportunity for women to learn how to manage money for the benefit of their families,” while Bong County’s Gender Coordinator encouraged a stronger focus on rural women. The Motorcyclist Union and youth representatives also committed to spreading the program’s benefits among their members and schools.
PAPSS: Connecting Bong to Africa’s Markets
Alongside financial literacy training, CBL promoted PAPSS, a platform enabling instant and secure payments between African countries in local currencies. Officials highlighted its potential to ease cross-border trade for rural entrepreneurs, reducing costs and delays associated with foreign currency transactions.
The Bong County event follows earlier launches in Grand Gedeh, Lofa, and Nimba counties. The CBL says each rollout strengthens its financial inclusion agenda, ensuring no Liberian — whether in urban centers or remote villages — is left behind.
By pairing grassroots financial education with cutting-edge payment systems like PAPSS, the Central Bank aims to empower Liberians with the knowledge and tools to participate more fully in both the national and African economies.
