The Advertising Association of Ghana has raised concerns over the growing number of illegal billboards in Accra, revealing that between 40 and 60 per cent of the more than 10,000 advertising structures identified across the capital do not meet the required regulations.
The Association’s President, Andrew Ackah, said an assessment conducted by the organisation uncovered several billboards that violate traffic and building regulations, while others pose potential safety risks due to concerns about their structural integrity and the quality of materials used.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, November 4, Mr Ackah explained that the Association undertook the exercise using its own resources to determine the extent of non-compliance within the outdoor advertising sector.
He said the team mapped more than 10,000 billboards across Accra and compared their locations and specifications with existing laws and technical guidelines governing outdoor advertising.
According to him, the assessment revealed that between 40 and 60 per cent of the structures failed to meet the required standards.
“We counted over 10,000 billboards. What we did was technically use this database and then superimpose it on the law and the guiding document. We realised that between 40 to 60 per cent of these billboards are illegal because they flout those rules,” he stated.
Mr Ackah attributed the situation partly to weak enforcement by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), which are responsible for issuing permits and ensuring that outdoor advertising structures comply with approved standards.
He noted that although the Ghana Standards Authority, with input from relevant stakeholders, has developed guidelines to regulate the industry, compliance and enforcement by the assemblies remain major challenges.
He warned that the situation could persist if the assemblies fail to strengthen their monitoring activities and ensure that billboard permits are issued in line with established regulations.
Mr Ackah therefore called for stricter oversight and enforcement to address the growing number of unauthorised advertising structures and improve safety across the capital.
