A renowned lawyer Selike Donkor has petitioned the Ho Municipal Chief Executive and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to as a matter of urgency address unlawful mounting of advertising political sign posts on the road.

Parts of the petition reads.

I write this petition to bring your attention to an advertising and political sign mounted at the Ahoe-Roundabout that offends respective provisions in the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180) and urge the said illegality to be cured by immediately causing its removal.

Background Facts

1. On the 4th of November 2024, it had come to my attention that an advertising and political sign was mounted in the middle section of the Ahoe-Roundabout as part of the campaigning activities of the ruling party, the New Patriotic Party.

Attached and marked as Exhibit GH-1 Series is a picture of the said advertising sign.

2. Further, my attention has been drawn to the fact that many road users, including drivers of motor vehicles, have expressed displeasure concerning the advertising sign to the extent that it obscures the view and vision of road users to facilitate the safe use of the road. The said complaints were registered on Swiss FM and Ho FM, both within the Ho Municipality.

Unlawfulness of the Act

3. Subject to regulation 188 of the Road Traffic Regulation 2012 (L.I 2180), an outdoor advertising sign, including campaign and political signs, shall not be mounted on the road in a manner that interferes with or obscures the safe use of the road.

For our purposes, regulation 188 of LI 2180 is reproduced below.

188. (1) An outdoor advertising sign placed on a road or related facility shall be placed in a manner that does not interfere with or obscure a traffic sign, device or signal to render the use of the road or facility unsafe or a motorist or pedestrian.

(2) The placement of outdoor advertising signs shall be done in consultation with the Road Authority and the relevant body and in conformity with the standards and regulations prescribed by the Ghana Standards Authority.

(3) A person who contravenes this commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than twenty-five penalty units and not more than fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than three (3) months or to both.

(4) If one peruses regulation 188(2), it requires the express authority of the Roads Authority before an advertising sign can be mounted on a road. One wonders whether this approval has been sought.

Demands

(5) Per the foregoing, I make the following demands:

a. That the Ghana Roads and Highways Authority and the Municipal Assembly immediately take steps to cause the removal of the said advertising sign that blocks the vision of road users and is likely to occasion an accident.

b. That if the consent and express authority of the Ghana Roads and Highways Authority was not sought before the said sign was mounted, it causes a report to be made with the Ghana Police Service for the matter to be investigated and the perpetrators brought to book.

c. That the Volta Regional Coordinating Council in collaboration with the Roads and Highways Authority take steps to ensure that other advertising signs in the Ho Municipality comply strictly with regulation 188 of LI 218.