THE Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Chairperson for the Technical Working Group on Standardisation and Regulation of Signages, Ms Rita Na Odoley Sowah, has admonished owners of billboards and signages mounted at unapproved locations, or without the requisite authorisations, to have them pulled down, or the State will pull down the structures.
She has given the clearest indications that her committee will, on Saturday, December 20, 2025, lead a monitoring exercise focused on the regulation of signage and the removal of advertising billboards mounted at unauthorised locations.
Accordingly, the committee has engaged with some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to identify and mark some affected structures to be pulled down.
The exercise forms part of government’s broader urban management and beautification drive, aimed at ensuring public safety, environmental order, and visual harmony in cities and towns across the country.
As Chairperson of the Technical Working Committee on Signages, Ms Odoley Sowah underscored the need for strict adherence to approved guidelines governing the installation of billboards, shop signages, and outdoor advertising structures.
Addressing journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing National Sanitation Week drive initiated by her ministry ahead of the Christmas festivities, she noted that improperly mounted signages pose significant risks, including obstruction of visibility, distraction to motorists, structural hazards, and degradation of the urban landscape.
The Deputy Minister stressed that enforcement actions were not intended to stifle business activity but to promote order, safety, and compliance with planning regulations.
She reiterated that MMDAs have a responsibility to enforce signage regulations consistently and fairly and called on advertising companies, business owners, and property developers to cooperate with local authorities in order to ensure that all installations receive the necessary approvals before mounting.
Ms Sowah further indicated that the Technical Working Committee would continue to work closely with relevant agencies, including urban roads authorities and environmental health officers, to sustain routine inspections and enforcement.
According to her, the signage monitoring initiative complements the ongoing National Sanitation Exercise, aimed at reinforcing government’s commitment to clean, safe, and well-organised urban spaces ahead of Christmas and beyond.
Moreover, she gave the assurance that the ministry would continue to engage stakeholders and the media to educate businesses on signage standards while maintaining firm enforcement against persistent violations.
It will be recalled that over two months, the sector Minister, Hon Ahmed Ibrahim (MP), inaugurated the committee, with representation from institutions and identifiable bodies such as the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, Institute of Planners, Department of Urban Roads, Ghana Police Service, Road Safety Authority, National Development Planning Commission, Advertisers Association of Ghana, among others.
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