AMA: All unauthorised billboard must be removed by April 30

Accra, April 3, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is asking all those who have mounted unauthorized billboards, fixtures, branded walls and hanged banners to remove them by April 30, 2009.

It said in a statement signed by Mr Frank Asante, Head of Public Relations, that, under the law any form of outdoor advertisement must have the approval of the Assemblies before they were displayed. Therefore the practice where some advertisers, companies, organisations and individuals mounted billboards and fixtures, branded walls and hanged banners without prior approval from the Assembly was "a serious breach of the law".

"Failure to remove all unauthorized outdoor advertisements in the metropolis by the stated date will compel the Assembly to deploy its taskforce to remove same and surcharge the owners with the cost of removal."

AMA also cautioned all outdoor advertising companies and agencies owing the Assembly to take the necessary steps and make good or settle their indebtedness by 30 April, 2009.

AMA said it also took serious exception to indiscipline creeping into the outdoor advertising industry. It noted that for some time now, some companies and agencies in the industry had refused to register or renew their registration and pay their business operating permit fees.

"The Assembly is serving notice to all such defaulters to the effect that punitive and distasteful action would be taken against them which includes publishing the list of defaulting companies in the dailies, removing their billboards and signboards, withdrawing their permits to operate in the metropolis, blacklisting such companies and above all instituting legal action to retrieve all moneys due the Assembly."

AMA therefore said advertising companies were therefore advised to pay their arrears and renew their operational permits to avoid embarrassment.

AMA also said it took a strong exception to the indiscriminate littering of the metropolis with posters, noting that churches, organisations, musicians and other individuals paste posters at unauthorised places, even though the Assembly has mounted event poster boards for such purpose.

"This impunity cannot continue and AMA is serving notices to all such groups, associations and individuals to desist from this negative practice."

The AMA designated 13 locations where event poster boards had to be mounted and under no circumstances should posters be found at any other place.

They are Behind Accra Polytechnic, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Awudome Area near the Cemetery, La T-Junction, La township, Kaneshie, near Ann's Preparatory School, Achimota under the Overhead Bridge, 37 Military Hospital, Shangri-La Hotel, Korle Bu Traffic Light, Osu, near the Cemetery, Police headquarters, Holy Trinity Anglican Church. AMA noted that another disturbing trend emerging in the city is the proliferation of unauthorised wall brands and warned property owners not to allow their premises and walls to be used for such purposes. It said property owners should demand approval from AMA before acceding to requests from companies adding that the Assembly had power to prosecute property owners and their collaborators for such infraction.

"The public is hereby reminded that all forms of outdoor adverts such as posters, banners, wall-branding, signboards, directional signs and billboards need prior approval from the Assembly. The Assembly will also increase the number of event poster boards in the metropolis to cater for the increasing needs of customers. But they must do the proper thing by seeking prior approval."

AMA said it was about to audit all outdoor hoardings in the metropolis and advised all outdoor advertisers to register and obtain a numbered sticker to be pasted or embossed on their boards on or before 30th April, 2009.

It said all forms of outdoor hoardings without the AMA approved numbered stickers as well as logos of the respective companies will be removed and culprits duly prosecuted. AMA also appealed to all political parties to remove their billboards, posters, banners and other political party paraphernalia in the metropolis now that the elections were over. 3 April 09