Fisheries Minister Musa Drammeh claims the Brikama Area Council went beyond what he approved back in 2020 when they raised rates in the West Coast Region. This came up during a heated National Assembly debate on Thursday between lawmakers Maimuna Ceesay-Darboe and Alagie Darboe. The discussion started after arguments about recent tax increases sparked public anger throughout the region.
Maimuna Ceesay-Darboe, who represents the ruling NPP party, attacked the UDP-led council for raising property taxes from D300 to D2000. She called these increases unfair to local residents and criticized UDP for speaking against a Brikama North chief who urged people not to pay these new fees. The debate turned personal when both sides accused each other of making misleading statements.
Alagie Darboe from UDP fired back by saying that Minister Drammeh himself had approved these increases when he worked as local government minister. This shifted blame toward the current administration rather than the council. The disagreement highlighted deep political divisions between the ruling party and the opposition-controlled local government.
Minister Drammeh jumped into the argument with his version of events. He explained that in 2020, the Brikama Area Council requested increases that he endorsed legally. These changes were properly processed through the Ministry of Justice and published officially. Drammeh insisted nobody complained about these 2020 increases. He believes the newly elected 2023 council made additional unauthorized increases without proper approval. According to Drammeh, these newer increases break the law and cannot be enforced.
Maimuna Ceesay-Darboe, who represents the ruling NPP party, attacked the UDP-led council for raising property taxes from D300 to D2000. She called these increases unfair to local residents and criticized UDP for speaking against a Brikama North chief who urged people not to pay these new fees. The debate turned personal when both sides accused each other of making misleading statements.
Alagie Darboe from UDP fired back by saying that Minister Drammeh himself had approved these increases when he worked as local government minister. This shifted blame toward the current administration rather than the council. The disagreement highlighted deep political divisions between the ruling party and the opposition-controlled local government.
Minister Drammeh jumped into the argument with his version of events. He explained that in 2020, the Brikama Area Council requested increases that he endorsed legally. These changes were properly processed through the Ministry of Justice and published officially. Drammeh insisted nobody complained about these 2020 increases. He believes the newly elected 2023 council made additional unauthorized increases without proper approval. According to Drammeh, these newer increases break the law and cannot be enforced.
