The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has been tasked to take immediate steps to crack down on unauthorized billboards and signboards along major roads in the capital.
Ama’s appearance before the committee
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government and Decentralization, Queenstar Pokuah Sawyerr, threw the charge when officials of the AMA, led by its Chief Executive, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, appeared before the committee on Tuesday (Oct 6) to respond to a number of financial infractions contained in the 2025 Auditor-General’s reports on the assembly.
Obstruction of motorists’ views
The issue of unauthorized billboards and signboards came up during discussions on what steps the AMA had taken to rid the capital of unauthorized structures and restore the beauty of road medians.
She said the huge number of such structures had become a disturbing menace, obstructing motorists’ views and posing a threat to road safety.
“I think your biggest problem is those who put unauthorized billboards and signboards along our roads because when you are driving these structures block your view from seeing next car ahead of you or approaching you,” she said.
Road safety concerns
The Agona East Member of Parliament said one of the biggest challenges facing beautification and road safety in the capital was the presence of unauthorized billboards and signboards along major roads.
She, therefore, urged the AMA to focus on billboards and signboards mounted along road medians, saying some of them were positioned in ways that made it difficult for motorists to see clearly.
The three-term MP said the situation had become a concern for motorists, with several complaints from people who had experienced difficulties driving around parts of Accra because of structures obstructing their views.
Spare petty traders
Hon. Sawyerr also urged the AMA not to focus mainly on petty traders using tables along the medians, but rather deal with containers and other permanent unauthorized structures in the streets.
She argued that traders using tables were often the least of the assembly’s problems, stressing that the presence of containers and other unauthorized structures created an environment that encouraged more people to occupy the road medians.
“So, for those on tabletops, they should be the least of your problem because tabletop-traders are the poor that are thrown out for no good reason.
Action promulgated
In his response, MCE of the AMA said, they had formed a team to assist the assembly in dealing with the challenge.
“We have already begun removing some unauthorized billboards and signboards within road median and we do not need to give notice to the owners since they do not have permit,” he said.
He said the assembly had observed that attempts to notify owners of unauthorized structures before removing them often gave them the opportunity to mobilize people to resist the exercise.
“One thing I have noticed is that anytime you want to do any work within the city and you write to give notification, the date that you announce to carry out the exercise becomes difficult because they will mobilize people there to prevent you,” he said.
Mr. Allotey explained that the assembly was also taking steps to relocate traders from road medians as part of efforts to restore greenery and beautify major roads in the city.
He said instead of simply driving the traders away, the assembly had begun moving them from the streets and creating designated spaces where they could operate, he further explained.
