A Winning Ticket, A New Home: Abu Fomba Receives Mercury International’s $81,000 Grand Prize

Thirty-nine-year-old Abu Fomba, a small-scale miner from Kenema, is the latest winner of Mercury International’s “Win A House” promotion, walking away with a brand-new two-bedroom bungalow valued at US$81,000 – more than Le 2 billion (old leones).

Mercury International officially handed over the keys to the house, located at TAF Salone Micro City, on Monday, August 3, during a ceremony attended by company executives, members of the media and invited guests. The presentation marked the climax of the promotion, which was launched in April to reward customers using the MercuryBet online platform.

For Fomba, the moment was one he never imagined.

“Today My Life Has Changed”

Abu Fomba inside his new home

“When Mercury called me, I jumped right out of my seat,” he said with a smile. “The people around me kept asking what had happened, and I shouted, ‘Today my life has changed!’ We were so excited that we even blocked the road.”

The excitement soon gave way to relief as the reality of owning a home in the capital began to sink in.

As someone who frequently travels from Kenema to Freetown for business, accommodation has always been one of his biggest expenses. Owning a house in the city, he said, would not only save him money but also provide comfort and security for his family whenever they visited.

“Sometimes I spend up to one hundred dollars a night on a hotel,” Fomba explained. “Now I have my own house. Instead of paying hotel bills, I can use that money to take care of my wife and children. Today, I feel like the happiest gentleman in this country.”

Abu had only ever won a tricycle (commonly known as a keke) in one of Mercury’s promotions two years ago. He described receiving a house as something beyond his expectations.

Mercury Bets on Transparency and Bigger Rewards

Martin Micheal (left) and Abu Fomba (right) inside the new home

The presentation coincided with the birthday of Mercury International Managing Director, Martin Michael, who described the bungalow as the biggest single prize the company has awarded since its establishment.

He said the partnership with TAF Salone Micro City reflected Mercury International’s commitment to rewarding customers with prizes capable of making a lasting difference in their lives.

Michael also acknowledged the contribution of the company’s retailers, describing them as the backbone of the business.

“While many of us are sitting comfortably in our offices, our retailers are outside every day, whether it’s raining or sunny, serving customers,” he said. “They are the real heroes of this business.”

Abu Fomba and the Mercury International team

Addressing questions about why the promotion was conducted exclusively through the MercuryBet online platform, Michael said the digital system allowed the company to maintain a transparent and verifiable selection process.

“With online betting, every customer has a verified account with details like a phone number and email address,” he explained. “That makes it much easier to conduct a fair and transparent draw. We tried using paper tickets before, but identifying winners from more than a million entries became very difficult.”

He also hinted that customers could look forward to another major promotion later this year.

Quoting advice from his late father, Attorney Edward Laurence Michael, he said Mercury International has always believed in fulfilling its promises.

“My father always told me that in Sierra Leone, once you make a promise, it becomes a debt,” Michael said. “Today, I’m promising our customers that something big is coming this Christmas for both sports and casino players, and I intend to fulfil that promise.”

A New Door Opens

Fomba ready for a fresh start in his new Home

As the ribbon was cut and he was officially presented the keys, Fomba walked through the doors of a home he now calls his own.

What started as a regular bet on the MercuryBet online platform has given the Kenema miner more than just a prize: it has provided his family with a permanent place to stay in Freetown.

Standing outside his new home, surrounded by family, friends and well-wishers, Abu could hardly hide his excitement.

His journeys to Freetown will no longer end at hotel reception desks: they will end at his own front door.

WRITTEN BY DAVIDNETTE VANDY