AAG moves to instil discipline in outdoor advertising
The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) says it is collaborating with the municipal and metropolitan assemblies in the country to have all billboards mounted without authorisation pulled down.
The President of the association, Mr Torgbor Mensah, who announced this, complained about the influx of unauthorised billboards scattered across the cities, particularly in Accra and Kumasi which were endangering lives and creating clutter.
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He disclosed that the association would engage with the assemblies for a set date on which billboards that did not have authorisation would be pulled down, adding that “if such arbitrariness is not checked, the numbers may increase and that could lead to more problems that could greatly impact on the nation.”
Mr Torgbor said this at the association’s 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Accra last Wednesday.
New districts
He said the desire of some new assemblies to assert their independence and the thinking that ‘Out of Home Advertising’ was a cash cow was fuelling the situation, adding that “it has resulted in individuals without the requisite technical know-how giving permits for billboards to be mounted and thereby creating clutter and endangering lives.”
He said the Ghana Highway Authority intensified its drive to remove billboards in the right of way at a point in time and that brought a major shakeup in the ‘Out of Home Advertising’ scene in Accra.
“I had to intervene to request a stakeholder’s meeting to discuss the modalities involved with the assemblies and the GHA to ensure a standardised approach,” Mr Torgbor said.
Advertising Bill
He said the association had secured funding from the Business Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC Fund) to support the processes for passage of the Advertising Bill into law to enable the association standardise activities in the marketing communications sector.
In addition, he said, the association had held a stakeholder engagement with BUSAC and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to infuse new ideas into the bill.
He was optimistic that through such an engagement, the bill would soon be passed.
Induction ceremony
Ten advertising firms were inducted into the association on the occasion of the AGM and were provided with certificates.
Those firms were Goldminds Multimedia, Hi-Lynks Communication Ltd, Interactive Digital, Insel Communication, Legend Design House, Swap Ad, 3WM International Company, Easyword Communication, Joyful Attitude, Luxury Branding and Veritas Advertising.