All unauthorised and substandard billboards across the country that pose a threat to the motoring public are to be removed with effect from September 1, this year.
A task force comprising the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) and the Advertisers Association of Ghana (AAG) has been set up to carry out the exercise.
Apart from pulling it down, the task force will also ensure that the owners of such billboards would be prosecuted, the Director of Planning and Programmes of the NRSC, Mr David Osafo Adonteng, told the Daily Graphic.
Danger He said the springing up of billboards across the country had also become a nuisance. The director further noted that due to the substandard nature of some of the boards, they fell at the least force, especially during storms and blocked the views of motorists, causing danger to life. “Now, you even have electronic billboards some of which distract the attention of drivers,” he added.
Law According to him, the work of the task force was part of efforts at implementing Regulation 188 of the Road Traffic Regulations which, among other requirements provide that an outdoor advertising sign placed on a road or related facility shall be placed in a manner that it does not interfere or obscure a traffic sign, device, or signal to render the use of the road or facility unsafe to a motorist.
Caution “Owners of such billboards erected in, on, along and over, a road or related facility (e.g. interchange, bridge, footbridge, etc.) are advised to remove them by August 31, 2015. The general public is hereby informed that unauthorised or substandard billboards along the roads shall be removed and offenders prosecuted in accordance with Regulation 188 of LI 2180 with effect from September 1, 2015,” Mr Adonteng stated.
Illuminated sign “Every illuminated sign shall effectively be shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the road which are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the road user. A variable or animated sign shall only be permitted only in urban areas...,” he further indicated.
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