By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, Nov. 6, GNA– Mr Mahama Ayariga, Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has directed all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to identify billboard owners in their areas ahead of a nationwide enforcement exercise scheduled to begin on November 14, 2026.
The directive forms part of efforts to address unauthorised billboards and ensure that existing structures comply with standards set by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).
Speaking in Accra, Mr Ayariga said the Ministry had engaged the Advertisers Association of Ghana and other stakeholders to develop measures to sanitise public spaces, including roads, highways, sidewalks and lorry parks.
He said complaints about billboards erected without permits and structures that failed to meet the required standards had necessitated decisive action.
Mr Ayariga said assemblies were responsible for granting permits for billboard installations and should, therefore, have records of authorised owners and approved locations.
He said a survey had, however, revealed that several billboards did not display the names of their owners, making it difficult for authorities to identify those responsible for them.
He explained that recognised advertising companies usually displayed their identities on billboards to enable authorities to contact them when problems arose.
The Minister said the absence of ownership details could indicate that a billboard had been erected without the necessary permit or that its owner was avoiding accountability.
He directed all assemblies to submit, between November 5 and 13, records of companies and individuals authorised to erect billboards, together with their approved locations.
He said joint inspections and enforcement would begin on November 14, adding that unidentified billboards and those erected at unauthorised locations would be pulled down.
Mr Ayariga said even billboards with valid permits would be removed if they were found to be installed at locations different from those approved by the assemblies.
He said the exercise would be conducted nationwide, with the scrap materials from dismantled illegal billboards handed to the Scrap Dealers Association for sale, while assemblies would be billed for the cost of removing the structures.
He urged the media and the public to support the exercise by educating billboard owners and operators on the need to obtain permits and comply with the required standards.
He said the standards were available on the websites of the GSA and the Advertisers Association, while the Ministry would also publish them.
Mr Ayariga said the government would also examine the use of electronic billboards to reduce the number of advertising structures at roundabouts and major intersections.
Mr Michael Kpakpo Allotey, Mayor of Accra, welcomed the directive and pledged the support of the assemblies.
He said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly had already begun identifying unauthorised billboards, some of which were erected at night.
Mr Andrew Ackah, President of Advertising Association of Ghana pledged the association’s support, including the provision of technical expertise and data to help identify irregularities.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade