The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has signalled a tougher stance against the growing spread of unauthorised billboards and signages, warning that assemblies that fail to act will face financial penalties.
During an inspection tour of affected areas in Accra, the Deputy Minister, Rita Naa Odeley Sowah, announced that non-compliant assemblies will be surcharged as part of efforts to enforce regulations and restore order in the country’s urban spaces.
The exercise, carried out with a technical committee dedicated to sanitising the cityscape, forms part of a broader initiative to improve the visual environment and ensure safer, well-organised communities.
Officials say the unchecked rise of illegal billboards has contributed to visual clutter, safety concerns, and a breakdown in regulatory control.
Madam Sowah stressed that assemblies have a clear mandate to enforce existing rules and ensure that only approved structures are permitted. She cautioned that failure to fulfil this responsibility will not be tolerated, underscoring the government’s commitment to discipline and accountability.
Supporting the move, the Executive Director of the Advertisers Association of Ghana, Isaac Cudjoe, called for sustained momentum in the campaign against unauthorised structures.
He noted that consistent enforcement is key to preserving the integrity of public spaces while promoting compliance within the advertising industry.
Similarly, the President of the Ghana Institute of Planners, Percy Anaab Bukari, urged metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies to engage qualified planning professionals in their work.
He emphasised that leveraging the expertise of trained planners will strengthen development control, ensuring cities are managed in a more structured, sustainable, and professional manner.
Together, stakeholders believe these measures will help create cleaner, safer, and more orderly urban environments while reinforcing respect for planning regulations.
