Accra unauthorized billboards: Owners given Nov 13 deadline to identify structures or face removal

Advertising companies and billboard owners in Accra have been given until November 13, 2026, to clearly display their names and business details on their advertising structures or risk having them removed.

The directive forms part of a government-led exercise aimed at identifying unauthorised billboards, addressing safety concerns and restoring order to outdoor advertising activities across the capital.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, November 5, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) announced that enforcement activities would begin on November 14.

Under the arrangement, billboards without identifiable ownership details after the deadline may be classified as unclaimed or unauthorised and marked for removal.

The exercise follows growing concerns about the number of billboards erected in Accra, with a recent assessment by the Advertising Association of Ghana suggesting that a substantial proportion do not comply with existing regulations.

According to the Association's President, Andrew Ackah, more than 10,000 billboard structures have been identified across the capital.

He disclosed on November 4 that between 40 and 60 per cent of the structures were estimated to be illegal or non-compliant with established requirements.

The findings were based on an assessment conducted by the Association, which compared the location and nature of the structures with relevant traffic regulations, building requirements and technical guidelines.

Some of the concerns identified included the location of billboards near roads, the quality of materials used for construction and the structural safety of certain installations.

The November 14 exercise will bring together officials from the Local Government Ministry, the Advertising Association of Ghana, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and the Ghana Standards Authority.

The joint teams will visit selected roads and locations with a high concentration of advertising structures to establish their ownership and assess their compliance with regulatory requirements.

The inspection will be guided by the Ghana Standards Authority's GS-847:2019, Second Edition, which provides technical specifications for mounting and installing outdoor advertising structures.

Authorities say the objective is to ensure that billboards are properly installed, do not endanger road users and meet the relevant safety standards.

The operation also places renewed attention on the responsibilities of local assemblies, which are required to regulate billboard installations within their jurisdictions.

For instance, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly's permit requirements include structural drawings approved by qualified professionals, insurance documentation and the consent of property owners where structures are to be installed on private land.

Meanwhile, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, has raised concerns about the concentration of billboards around road junctions and roundabouts.

He has indicated that the government is considering restrictions on conventional advertising structures in certain locations, particularly where they could obstruct motorists' visibility.

The Minister has also called for greater cooperation between the Advertising Association and local assemblies to identify billboards that do not meet the required standards.

The Ministry has made it clear that the November 14 operation will not be a one-time exercise.

Periodic inspections and enforcement activities are expected to continue in Accra before being extended to other parts of the country.

Advertising agencies, billboard operators and property owners have consequently been urged to comply with the identification directive and cooperate with the inspection teams.

The authorities maintain that the exercise is intended to protect public safety and ensure that outdoor advertising activities are conducted within the applicable regulatory framework.