Jakarta: The National Road Safety Authority (NSRA) will in the coming days sue Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region for unlawful placement of billboards along roads. This action follows the MMDAs’ failure to comply with the NRSA’s 21-day ultimatum to remove all unauthorised billboards and posters, particularly within road medians.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Abraham Amaliba, Acting Director-General of the NSRA, stated that they had intended to meet with the MMDAs to grant them a grace period to remove the illegal billboards following the 21-day ultimatum. However, the MMDAs did not attend a scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 29, to discuss their non-compliance with the directive. Due to this absence, the NSRA has decided to sue the assemblies to enforce the law regarding the unlawful placement of billboards along roads in Ghana.

Mr. Amaliba emphasized that the failure of the MMDAs to attend the meeting indicates a lack of interest in addressing the issue, leading the NSRA to take legal action. He stated, “Their failure to come means that they are not interested, so what we can do is to appear in court with them. For now, we are proceeding on the basis that they have attended this programme, and we are going to proceed on the basis that we have met them, and so we are going to enforce the law.”

The NRSA highlighted that these billboards create visibility challenges for motorists. In April, the Authority issued a 21-day ultimatum to the MMDAs in the Greater Accra region to remove unauthorised billboards that pose risks to motorists and pedestrians. The NSRA cited the growing number of unregulated billboards, especially those on road medians and near intersections, as a significant safety concern. According to the NSRA, many of these billboards obstruct drivers’ views and serve as distractions.