On Wednesday, November 4, Minister for Local Government Mahama Ayariga announced that the government is moving toward a policy that will limit billboard installations to electronic displays only. The plan targets conventional billboards, especially those around roundabouts and road junctions, where the proliferation of advertising structures has been cited as a safety concern for motorists.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Ayariga explained that the growing number of physical billboards in these areas has created visibility challenges, making it difficult for drivers to spot oncoming vehicles and navigate safely. He said that electronic billboards could offer advertising companies the ability to display multiple adverts from a single location, reducing the need for several physical structures.
The minister emphasized that the objective is not merely to remove unauthorised billboards but to address the broader problem of excessive advertising structures, including those that have obtained the necessary permits. “Permitted for me is not an issue. The issue is that those billboards should not be there. We are in the process of reaching a conclusion that would allow only electronic billboards to be erected in certain areas,” he said.
Ayariga added that the Ministry is prepared to engage the Advertising Association of Ghana and examine its proposals as part of efforts to reorganise billboard installations across the country. He noted that by March 2027, when Ghana celebrates its 70th anniversary, the new policy should be in place.
