Almost 60% of Accra’s 10,000 billboards are illegal – Advertising Association

The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) has reported that up to 60% of the more than 10,000 billboards in Accra are likely illegal, citing lax enforcement by local assemblies. The AAG President, Andrew Ackah, highlighted that many structures violate traffic and building regulations, and some raise concerns about structural integrity and materials used.

The association independently conducted the count, mapping the billboards and checking them against the law and technical guidelines for outdoor advertising. The main culprit, according to Ackah, is the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) responsible for issuing permits for outdoor advertising. The Ghana Standards Authority has established guidelines, but MMDAs are not enforcing them.

Without stricter monitoring, Ackah warned, illegal billboards will continue to spring up. The AAG's standards require billboards to adhere to the Ghana Building Code, withstand wind and earthquake loads, have certified drawings approved by the assembly, and respect spacing and placement restrictions based on road speed limits. In August 2025, the Ministry of Roads and Highways cited an unauthorized billboard at the Flowerpot Interchange that violated the standard, the Road Traffic Act, and the Road Traffic Regulations.

Ackah pointed to several congested areas in Accra, including Liberation Road, the roads around Accra Mall, and the 37 Military Hospital intersection. In July 2024, he revealed that 75% of the billboards on Spintex Road were unauthorized, with some operators operating without permits. Poorly constructed billboards can collapse, obstruct drivers' views, and impede traffic flow.

In response to a request for a clean-up plan, MMDCEs were given seven days to remove unauthorized billboards in Greater Accra on April 28. The AAG's Executive Director, Isaac Cudjoe, welcomed the move but stressed the need for consistent enforcement. Some in the industry, like the Outdoor Advertisers Association, have petitioned the government to halt the demolition of median signs, advocating for smart regulation with a phased relocation plan and permits harmonized with road safety rules.