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AAG bemoans inappropriate erection of billborads
The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) has disclosed that over 60 per cent of billboards in the country are unlawfully erected, with their ownership largely unknown.
This follows the increasing trend of billboards and signposts mounted at inappropriate locations, such as pedestrian walkways, highway medians, and intersections, posing potential hazards to the public.
Speaking to Citi News, the President of AAG, Andrews Ackah, expressed concern over the situation, noting that many billboard installations do not go through the proper legal channels.
He warned that failure to regulate these structures could lead to future disasters.
“Our investigation shows that most people do not comply with these and make it very difficult for anyone to monitor how these illicit billboards are in place. From our investigation, we can place on record that there are about 50-60 per cent of the billboards that we do not know who owns them.
“This puts a question mark on the conscience of all of us. We strongly believe that the persons who, because of the illicit way of mounting billboards, do not go through the right procedure,” he stated.
Mr Ackah also highlighted the widespread disorder in Accra, where billboards are haphazardly displayed, creating both a public nuisance and intense competition among advertisers.
“This is compounded by the political cycle. Anytime there is an election coming up, you see all these billboards spring up anywhere, and those who mount these billboards do so while utilising the political favour they may be getting from the party to mount these billboards anywhere. What is also witnessed is that they are also mounting these billboards on the medians of the roads,” he lamented.
The Ghana High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, is appealing to the public to help trace the relatives or next of kin of Apia Solomon, a Ghanaian national believed to be from Osu, Accra.
According to a public announcement by the High Commission, Mr. Solomon, born on March 6, 1960, in Accra, died on July 5, 2021, from cardiopulmonary failure.
He worked as a temporary civilian staff member at the National Defence College in Nigeria. His remains are currently being kept at the Nigerian Air Force Hospital morgue in Abuja, pending burial arrangements.
The High Commission says efforts to locate his relatives have so far been unsuccessful and is urging anyone with information about his family, friends or next of kin to come forward.
Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the Ghana High Commission in Abuja.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Security consultant Richard Kumadoe has blamed what he describes as flawed recruitment and incomplete background checks for some of the problems facing the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI).
He has called on the leadership of the BNI to review the backgrounds of officers recruited during specific periods, particularly those who entered the agency under recent recruitment processes.
Speaking on the issue on TV3 yesterday, Mr Kumadoe alleged that some individuals were recruited into the intelligence agency without proper background checks and completed vetting.
“Certain categories of persons were dumped into the BNI, whose backgrounds were not checked, and whose vettings were not completed,” he stated.
He said some of the officers linked to the concerns appeared to have been recruited within the same period, making it necessary for the agency to examine the recruitment records and backgrounds of those who joined during that time.
Mr Kumadoe argued that the problems could be addressed by ensuring that recruitment procedures were properly followed and that all applicants underwent the required checks before being employed.
According to him, when the selection process is flawed, it can lead to problems within the institution.
He blamed the politicisation of security institutions, arguing that appointing people without the necessary intelligence experience and allowing political interests to influence recruitment could undermine their operations.
“When you have a selection procedure that was flawed because you politicised the place, brought in people to come and head the place when they have no business being there, they don’t know anything about being a BNI officer, they are not intelligence officers, and you flood the place with politicians and political artists, then you circumvent the standard procedure and you are going to have some of these problems,” he said.
Mr Kumadoe, however, defended the current leadership of the BNI, arguing that efforts to address longstanding problems within security institutions could bring such issues to light.
He said the leadership should be assessed in the context of the steps it is taking to improve the agency’s operations and uphold professional standards.
Drawing on his own experience in the intelligence field, he said the opportunity to serve under experienced officers had helped him develop the skills and integrity needed to contribute to national security.
By: Jacob Aggrey
