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The Government of Sierra Leone has officially rolled out a new payment system for “Waka Fine” Buses aimed at improving the efficiency and convenience of public transportation across the city.
The system, which allows passengers to pay their fares using a Waka Fine card, was introduced in a bid to reduce the use of cash and streamline the boarding process.
The Waka Fine card, priced at NLe 30, can be purchased at any of the bus terminal. Passengers can simply tap their card on a digital payment machine to complete the fare transaction, eliminating the need for physical cash.
The official launch follows the announcement of the system made earlier by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bonapha, who highlighted the benefits of the new system during the Ministry’s weekly press briefing at the Miatta Conference Centre in Freetown.
Bonapha emphasized that the cashless payment method would address a variety of common issues faced by passengers, such as conductors failing to return change. The move is also expected to curb petty financial misconduct and improve overall service efficiency.
The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with Metro Transport Company Limited (MTCL), the private operator of the Waka Fine buses. MTCL is a consortium made up of various transport stakeholders.
“The goal is to improve transparency, convenience, and efficiency in the transport sector,” Bonapha stated. He further clarified that while the buses are not owned by the government, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation is working closely with MTCL to ensure a smooth rollout of the system.
The cashless payment system is part of the World Bank-funded Integrated Urban Mobility Project, which aims to modernize and improve public transport in Sierra Leone.
The introduction of digital payment options is deemed a major step in the country’s push towards modernizing its urban transport system and reducing reliance on cash transactions.
