Billboard operators in Accra have until November 13 to display their names and company details on their advertising structures or risk having the installations marked for removal as part of a renewed government crackdown on unauthorised outdoor advertising.
The directive comes ahead of a joint inspection exercise scheduled for November 14, when officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the Advertising Association of Ghana and other regulatory bodies will inspect billboard installations at selected locations across the capital.
The exercise is expected to establish ownership, identify structures erected without the requisite permits and flag installations that fail to comply with prescribed safety and technical standards.
According to a joint statement issued on November 5, billboards that remain unidentified after the November 13 deadline will be considered unclaimed or potentially unauthorised and may be earmarked for removal.
The inspection teams will comprise representatives of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and other relevant stakeholders. Media representatives are also expected to accompany the teams.
The exercise will be guided by the GSA’s GS-847:2019, Second Edition, which outlines the technical specifications and requirements for mounting and installing outdoor advertising structures.
The Ministry says the intervention is intended to enhance public safety, strengthen regulatory enforcement and bring greater order to the outdoor advertising industry.
Over 10,000 billboards identified in Accra
The planned crackdown follows growing concerns over the proliferation of billboards that allegedly violate established regulatory and technical requirements across the capital.
President of the Advertising Association of Ghana, Andrew Ackah, disclosed on November 4 that an assessment conducted by the association had identified more than 10,000 billboards in Accra, with an estimated 40 to 60 per cent believed to be illegal.
He explained that the association had mapped the structures and assessed them against existing laws and technical guidelines, identifying violations involving traffic and building regulations, as well as concerns about the structural integrity and materials used in some installations.
The findings highlight the scale of the regulatory challenge confronting authorities, particularly the assemblies responsible for granting permits and monitoring outdoor advertising structures.
For instance, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s permit requirements include structural drawings endorsed by qualified professionals, evidence of insurance coverage and written consent from property owners where installations are proposed on private property.
Inspections to be extended beyond Accra
The November 14 exercise is expected to mark the beginning of a sustained enforcement programme rather than a one-off operation.
The joint statement indicates that periodic inspections and enforcement measures will continue in Accra before being extended to other parts of the country in collaboration with the respective MMDAs and relevant regulatory institutions.
The Ministry has therefore urged advertising companies, billboard operators and property owners to meet the identification deadline and cooperate with the inspection teams.
Members of the public and the media have also been encouraged to support the initiative.
Government considers restrictions on billboards at road junctions
The latest intervention comes amid broader government concerns about the impact of billboard congestion on urban planning and road safety.
Local Government Minister Mahama Ayariga has separately disclosed that the government is considering restricting conventional billboard installations at certain locations, particularly around roundabouts and road junctions, in favour of electronic advertising displays.
He has argued that the concentration of advertising structures in such areas could obstruct motorists’ views of approaching vehicles and create safety challenges for other road users.
Authorities say the broader objective is to ensure that outdoor advertising structures are properly located, safely installed and operated in accordance with the country’s regulatory requirements.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe