The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has begun a nationwide crackdown on illegal billboards placed in road medians, following several warnings to advertising companies and sign owners. The move comes after growing concerns about the safety risks these structures pose to both drivers and pedestrians.
In a statement released on July 22, 2025, the NRSA announced that it would continue its enforcement exercise to remove all unauthorized outdoor advertising signs located in road medians across major roads in the Greater Accra Region. The Authority explained that these billboards cause visual and cognitive distractions to motorists and obstruct visibility, increasing the chances of road accidents. According to MyJoyOnline the NRSA emphasized that the safety of road users must come first.
The crackdown follows a successful pilot operation in the Ayawaso West Municipality, where several illegal signs were removed. The next phase of the exercise will target key road corridors including the N1 Highway (Achimota Overhead to Dzorwulu Fiesta Royale Traffic Light), the Kwame Nkrumah Circle stretch (Circle to Odorkor and Weija Intersection), Spintex Road (Action Chapel to Palace Mall), and the Kawokudi to Achimota stretch.
The NRSA has issued a final warning to advertising agencies, corporate bodies, and individuals with billboards in these areas. They are being asked to voluntarily remove their signs immediately. Failure to comply will result in forceful removal, and the full cost of the operation will be charged to the owners. As reported by StarrFM, the Authority made it clear that it will not tolerate any further delays or excuses.
The NRSA is working closely with Municipal Assemblies to carry out the removal exercise. Some assemblies have already started taking down billboards, while others have requested more time to engage with advertisers. In an earlier interview, NRSA’s Head of Communications, Pearl Adusu Gyasi, confirmed that the Authority had given a 21-day ultimatum to all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to act. According to CitiNewsroom, some assemblies have begun the process, while others are still negotiating with billboard owners.
The NRSA says this operation is part of a broader campaign to engineer safer roads and reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths. It is calling on the public to support the initiative and report any illegal signs they see. According to Ghanaian Times, the Authority believes that removing these distractions will help improve visibility and reduce accidents on busy roads.
As the August enforcement deadline approaches, all eyes are on the NRSA and its partners to see how far this crackdown will go, and whether it will finally bring order to Ghana’s cluttered road medians.
Public reaction and compliance
According to CitiNewsroom, some municipal assemblies have already begun removing unauthorized billboards following the NRSA’s 21-day ultimatum. While certain assemblies requested more time to engage advertisers, others complied swiftly, reflecting the mixed response across stakeholders. The NRSA’s Head of Communications, Pearl Adusu Gyasi, confirmed that notices were issued well in advance, and the Authority expects full cooperation moving forward.
