The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has begun to see results as Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region begin the removal of unauthorised billboards in their areas, as the deadline for the ultimatum has lapsed.

Some local assemblies, following the NRSA’s threat to trigger legal action for noncompliance, have started taking down these structures after receiving a 21-day ultimatum from the Authority on April 30, 2025.

A report by myjoyonline.com on May 30, indicated that Abraham Amaliba, Acting Director-General of the NRSA, wanted to meet MMDAs to give them a grace period to remove all the illegal billboards in their jurisdiction after the 21-day ultimatum, but they failed to show up at a scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 29, to discuss the non-compliance with the directive.

A later report by citinewsroom.com on June 17, however, has indicated that some of the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have started the removal of billboards that obstruct road visibility and pose safety risks.

This action was driven by safety concerns for both motorists and pedestrians.

Speaking with citinewsroom.com on June 17, the Head of Communications at the NRSA, Pearl Adusu Gyasi, confirmed that while some assemblies have complied with the directive, others have requested additional time to consult with advertising companies before proceeding with the removals.

"After the deadline, we wrote to the Greater Accra Regional Council. So, they invited all the MMDAs. Some of them are in preparation to remove the unauthorised billboards from their jurisdiction, others have asked for an extension of the deadline so that they can meet with the advertisers and remove them," she noted.

The goal of removing unauthorised billboards is to decrease visual distractions on the roads and ensure that footbridges and overpasses meet their primary function of facilitating safe and efficient traffic management.

The NRSA stresses that advertising must not compromise road safety.

The authority has indicated that after the lapse of the deadline, they are keenly monitoring the assemblies to see if they will comply with the directive, warning that failure will attract legal consequences.

NAD/VPO

Meanwhile, watch as victims of the June 3 disaster decry 10 years of neglect by the state: