A joint operation to identify and remove unauthorised and non-compliant advertising billboards across Accra has been scheduled for November 14, 2026. The exercise is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs in partnership with the Advertising Association of Ghana.
As part of preparations, all billboard owners and advertising companies have been directed to clearly display their names or company identities on their respective structures by November 13, 2026. Billboards that remain unidentified after the deadline will be considered unclaimed or unauthorised and may be marked for removal.
A joint press statement issued on Thursday, November 5, indicated that the exercise would be guided by the Ghana Standards Authority’s (GSA) requirements, particularly GS-847:2019, Second Edition, which outlines the standards for the mounting and installation of advertising billboards. The initiative is aimed at safeguarding public safety, enforcing regulatory compliance and promoting a well-organised outdoor advertising environment.
On November 14, representatives from the Ministry, the Advertising Association of Ghana, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the GSA and other relevant stakeholders, alongside media personnel, will inspect selected roads and locations in Accra with significant concentrations of advertising billboards. The inspection will focus on identifying structures that are unmarked, unauthorised or do not meet the required standards, with enforcement measures expected to follow.
According to the statement, the exercise will be sustained through regular inspections and enforcement operations across Accra before being extended to other parts of the country in collaboration with the respective MMDAs and relevant stakeholders.
The Ministry has urged billboard owners, advertising agencies and property owners to meet the identification deadline and fully cooperate with the authorities throughout the exercise. It also called on the public and the media to support the initiative, describing it as a collective effort to protect public safety, strengthen regulatory compliance and ensure a clean, orderly and properly regulated outdoor advertising sector.
