Mr Abraham Amaliba, the Acting Director-General, National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has condemned the unauthorised placement of billboards on road medians, citing them as a hazard to pedestrians and road users.
He said such billboards obstructed pedestrians’ view of oncoming vehicles, increasing the risk of accidents when crossing the road.
Mr Amaliba’s criticism followed a viral TikTok video by Ms Diana Abrafi, a shop owner, who highlighted the dangers posed by billboards mounted on a curved median at East Airport, heading towards the underbridge at East Legon, Accra.
The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly.
Ms Abrafi’s video drew the NRSA’s attention to the obstruction, prompting an inspection of the site on Friday.
“We invited you here to assess the situation. A concerned citizen brought this issue to our attention, showing that these billboards pose a danger to road users, especially pedestrians. The video clearly illustrates how obstructive these billboards are,” Mr Amaliba told the media.
“Upon assessing the situation, we can confirm that the concerns raised in the video are valid. The height of the billboards and their arrangement make it difficult for pedestrians to see oncoming vehicles, especially at the bend in the road.”
The mounting of billboards on road medians is gradually becoming a common practice in Ghana, most of which poorly placed, especially on curves, and set at heights that obstruct the view of both pedestrians and drivers.
Mr Amaliba explained that the assemblies were responsible for granting permits for billboard installations and that the NRSA would investigate whether the advertisers obtained the necessary permits before erecting the billboards.
“Fortunately, the billboards have contact numbers on them. We will reach out to verify whether they have the required permits. If they do, we will engage the municipal assembly to understand why such an approval was granted despite the safety risks. If they do not have the necessary permits, the billboards must be removed immediately,” he said.
He reiterated the NRSA’s commitment towards taking proactive measures to promote road safety, adding that the Authority would not wait for accidents to occur before taking action.
Mr Amaliba lauded the lady for her patriotic behaviour and urged citizens to learn from her example by bringing similar hazards to the attention of the appropriate authorities.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Citizens must report obstructions or hazards that pose risks to road users.”
“Ms Abrafi’s video is a testament to the importance of public vigilance. We encourage others to follow her example and report similar concerns to us,” he said after meeting with her.
Beyond addressing this specific issue, the NRSA intends to tackle unauthorised structures on medians nationwide as part of a broader effort to improve road safety.
Ms Abrafi, who owns an agrochemical shop near the affected area, explained that she made the video after struggling to cross the road safely with a customer due to obstructed visibility, adding that a few days later, her brother’s dog was hit by a car while he was crossing the road with it.
“Three days ago, my brother was crossing the road with our dog when, due to poor visibility, the dog was hit by a car. I realised these billboards had been placed on the median on Monday when I came to work. They are usually erected at night, so I cannot say exactly when they were put up,” she recounted.
She added that attempts to contact the advertisers were unsuccessful, as they ignored her concerns when they realised she was not a potential client.
She urged Ghanaians to be active citizens and report safety hazards in their communities to the appropriate authorities.
GNA