HAJIA BARICHISU Abubakar Sidiq, the Budget Analyst of the Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly, has announced a proposed 20% increase in rates for the 2026 fiscal year.
She explained in an interview with Nationaltymes.com that this is the first increment since the Assembly was carved out of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in 2019.
According to her, the increase is necessary to improve service delivery across the municipality. “Stakeholders understand the need for this adjustment, and most of them have accepted it. We’re not making a sharp jump — we’re starting with 20%, and may adjust gradually in the coming years,” she said.
Despite the proposal being well-received, Hajia Barikisu raised concerns about low compliance with rate payments. “Many residents still delay or avoid payments altogether,” she noted.
“We understand that adjusting from the old AMA system has been difficult, but we urge everyone to fulfil their payment obligations. These funds are essential for us to meet the community’s development needs.”
Hajia Barichisu added that while it’s not always possible to meet every demand, the Assembly strives to deliver on at least 50 to 60 percent of the community’s priorities. “No issue is ignored. We are committed to making steady progress in every community.”
She encouraged residents to continue engaging with the Assembly and to report any challenges they face. “Our doors are always open. We want to serve our people better — but we can only do that with their support and cooperation.”
During a recent fee-fixing consultative meeting with shop owners and other stakeholders, concerns were raised—particularly from businesses like printing presses—about the fairness of the new rates.
Hajia Barichisu assured participants that the Assembly remains open to dialogue to address such concerns while ensuring that enough revenue is raised to support community projects.
As part of its annual budget process, the Assembly meets with community members to discuss development priorities. These meetings help the Assembly stay accountable and also give residents a platform to share their needs.
“We are very grateful for the massive participation we’ve seen this year,” Hajia Barikisu said. “These engagements allow us to explain how we use the rates collected and to ensure our planning reflects the people’s real concerns.”
Hajia Barichisu Abubakar Sidiq further told this portal that the Assembly is focusing on major infrastructure development projects including roads, drainage systems, markets, schools, and especially sanitation. “Areas like Alajo are facing serious sanitation challenges, and we are working hard to address them,” she noted.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
