24 February 2026 | Banjul, The Gambia
The Government of The Gambia will officially launch the newly set up The National Payment System Advisory Committee on 24 February 2026, marking a major milestone in strengthening governance, coordination, and policy coherence within the country’s rapidly expanding digital payments ecosystem.
The establishment of the committee will respond to the Government of The Gambia’s commitment to the total digitalization of the economy, the accelerated growth of Digital Financial Service Providers (DFSPs) and the national rollout of the Gambia Interoperability Switch Program (GISP)—a critical digital public infrastructure enabling seamless, secure, and inclusive electronic payments across banks, mobile money operators, fintechs, government institutions, and businesses.
As digital payments increasingly underpin economic activity, service delivery, and financial inclusion, the National Payment System Advisory Committee will provide a structured, expert-driven mechanism to ensure that growth remains fair, transparent, stable, and aligned with national development priorities .
Purpose and Strategic Rationale
The National Payment System Advisory Committee is established to provide independent advisory guidance on the pricing, regulation, and licensing of digital payment services in The Gambia. Its purpose is to ensure that the digital payments market operates in a way that protects consumers, promotes competition and innovation, and supports the government’s vision of a cash-lite, digitally enabled, and financially inclusive economy .
The Committee will function as a complementary body to existing regulators, offering expert insights without encroaching on statutory regulatory mandates.
Objectives of the Committee
The key objectives of the National Payment System Advisory Committee include:
- Advising on fair, competitive, and transparent pricing of digital payment services and DFSP products.
- Ensuring alignment of DFSP pricing and licensing practices with national goals of digitalization and financial inclusion.
- Protecting consumers from exploitative practices through transparency and evidence-based policy advice.
- Promoting market stability, innovation, and competition, while discouraging monopolistic behavior.
- Defining appropriate license categories and levels for DFSPs based on risk exposure and liquidity profiles.
- Reviewing industry-wide trends to ensure alignment with national digital finance objectives.
- Providing remedial or disciplinary advisory recommendations for defaulting DFSPs where necessary .
These objectives are especially critical as interoperability expands transaction volumes and cross-platform usage under GISP.
Scope of Work
To achieve its mandate, The National Payment System Advisory Committee will undertake the following core functions:
Review and Analysis of Pricing and Regulatory Policies
- Conduct periodic reviews of DFSP pricing structures and digital payment fees.
- Analyze market trends, cost structures, and consumer impacts to inform policy advice.
Pricing Guidelines and Benchmarks
- Recommend pricing guidelines that ensure fairness, transparency, and competitiveness.
- Advise on the adoption of international and regional best practices suited to the Gambian context.
Market Monitoring and Advisory
- Monitor the digital payments market for exploitative pricing or anti-competitive practices.
- Provide timely advisory inputs to regulators and government agencies on corrective actions.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Engage DFSPs, consumer groups, regulators, and technical experts to inform recommendations.
- Facilitate structured dialogue between industry players and policymakers.
Support for Financial Inclusion and a Cash-Lite Economy
- Advise on pricing strategies that encourage adoption of digital payments, particularly among low-income and underserved populations.
- Recommend initiatives that support the government’s digitalization agenda.
Reporting and Transparency
- Share quarterly meeting minutes and recommendations with the GISP Steering Council.
- Ensure transparency and accountability in all advisory outputs .
Strategic Importance to the Gambia Interoperability Switch Program (GISP)
The National Payment System Advisory Committee will play a central role in strengthening the governance of GISP, ensuring that interoperability is implemented as a public interest infrastructure.
Through its advisory function, the Committee will supports:
- Fair and non-discriminatory interoperability pricing.
- Equitable access to the switch for banks, mobile money operators, fintechs, and government platforms.
- Sustainable settlement, cost-sharing, and access models.
- Consumer-centric transaction costs across interoperable channels.
By reporting directly to the GISP Steering Council, the National Payment System Advisory Committee will ensure that interoperability decisions remain aligned with national policy objectives and inclusive growth goals.
Membership Structure
The Committee is composed of a maximum of seven core members, supported by additional institutional representatives, ensuring broad expertise and balanced perspectives. Members include:
- Chairperson, nominated by the Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia
- Gamswitch Representative, providing interoperability and technical expertise
- Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Representative
- Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy Representative
- Information Technology Association of The Gambia Representative (rotational)
- Consumer Protection Advocate (Advisory Role)
- Ministry of Justice Representative
Additional institutional participation includes representatives from:
- Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Gambia Bankers’ Association
- Financial Intelligence Unit
- Gambia Revenue Authority
- Gambia Information Technology Agency (GICTA)
- Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA)
This structure ensures that financial, technical, legal, consumer, and policy perspectives are fully integrated into advisory deliberations .
Meetings and Reporting Structure
- The Committee will meet at least quarterly, with additional meetings convened as needed.
- Decisions will be taken by simple majority, with the Chairperson holding a casting vote where required.
- The Committee will report directly to the GISP Steering Council, submitting findings and recommendations on a regular basis.
Duration and Review
- The Committee is established for an initial three-year term, with the possibility of renewal.
- Its performance and relevance will be reviewed annually, allowing for adjustments based on market evolution and national priorities .
Conclusion
The launch of the National Payment System Advisory Committee is really about people and progress. As digital payments become part of everyday life in The Gambia—from buying goods at the market to paying bills and accessing government services—it’s important that the systems behind them are fair, well-coordinated, and easy to trust.
This Committee brings everyone to the same table: policymakers, regulators, industry players, and consumer voices. By working closely with the Gambia Interoperability Switch Program, it will ensure that digital payment services grow in a way that is mindful of user concerns and priorities, supports innovation, and keeps costs reasonable.
At the end of the day, the goal is simple. We want digital payments to work for everyone—individuals, small businesses, service providers, and government alike. The National Payment System Advisory Committee will help build that confidence, guiding The Gambia toward a more connected, inclusive, and cash-lite digital future.
