AAG Engages Government to Make Its Billboards Demolition Exercise More Transparent.

Government’s initiative to decongest and sanitize the sky spaces of the Ghana’s big cities through billboards demolitions, has had to be slowed down for a while due to concerns raised by the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG).  AAG held a press briefing on Tuesday 17th March to clarify the industry’s position on the demolition exercise.

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs set up a committee in October, last year, with the mandate to roll out decongestion exercises across the country to sanitise the sky spaces of big cities due to the proliferation of billboards. The committee began its work by marking billboards within four municipal assemblies in Accra (La Dade-Kotopon, Korley-Clottey, Ayawaso West and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly). The marking exercise was followed by some demolition exercises, which have been met with a great deal of resistance from the AAG.

In AAG’s press briefing, the President of the association, Andrew Ackah, stated that although AAG has been at the forefront of calling for decongestion and regularisation of the outdoor sector, it is questioning questioned government as to why advertising industry players were not engaged before the demolitions began. Another concern of the AAG, according to the President, was that there was no clear and transparent plan communicated to relevant stakeholders and industry players. According to AAG, the association has a better plan that would make the demolition and decongestion exercise much easier for the government.

As a result of AAG’s push-back, two key events have happened: (1) The Greater Accra Regional Minister whose office was blamed for the demolition sent a press statement indicating that the recent demolition exercise was not carried out by the regional ministry; (2) The deputy minister for the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy & Religious Affairs, together with the decongestion and demolition committee called for an official engagement with AAG. The deputy minister, who chairs the committee assured the AAG delegation that the issues raised by the association will be considered.

GONG GONG AWARDS TO BE BETTER POSITIONED WITH NEW GONG GONG BOARD INAUGURATED

In a move signaling a new era of strategic governance, the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) formally inaugurated the Gong Gong Awards Board on Thursday 11th December at the Airport West Hotel. The historic swearing-in ceremony of the 10-member board marks a decisive step toward refining the nation’s premier creative awards and amplifying Ghana’s voice in the international advertising and creative ecosystem.

 

The event drew a gathering of industry stakeholders, media, and dignitaries who witnessed the board members take their oath of office. With its diverse composition spanning academia, media, agencies, and client-side leadership, the board was tasked to bring fresh perspective and rigorous standards into the awards framework.

 

In his inaugural address, Andrew Ackah, CEO of Dentsu Ghana and the President of Advertising Association of Ghana, framed the board’s mission in ambitious terms. “This is not merely an administrative body,” Mr. Ackah stated. “Our collective mandate is to elevate the Gong Gong Awards to international benchmarks, ensuring they become a true beacon of excellence that recognizes and rewards the phenomenal talent within Ghana’s creative sector.”

 

The newly constituted board represents a cross-section of industry heavyweights:

 

Guiding the academic perspective is Dr. Mrs. Linda Narh, a Lecturer and Coordinator at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

 

The media realm is represented by Afeafa Nfojoh, General Manager of Adesa Productions Ltd.

 

The agency and creative industry cohort features a roster of leaders: Russel Eni (Insel Communications), Grace Adzo Andoh (Art Excel), Anand Badami (Publicis West Africa), Nicolette Amaeshi (Pulse GH), Justin Darkwa (Rezultz Advertising), and Russell Banful (Brandflow).

 

Representing the client-side is Lasisi Andre Tayo Jnr, Head of Brand, Marketing Communications & Events at Telecel.

 

The inauguration program blended ceremony with clarity of purpose, featuring opening remarks, the formal swearing-in, and focused discussions on the board’s forthcoming responsibilities. While the group has yet to hold its first working session, the event unequivocally established their role as the custodians of the awards’ integrity and future trajectory.

The establishment of the Gong Gong Awards Board is widely seen as a direct response to the rapid growth and increasing sophistication of Ghana’s creative economy. By installing a body dedicated to governance, excellence, and global relevance, the AAG aims not only to enhance the prestige of the awards but also to catalyze broader industry innovation and professional development.

With this new governing engine now in place, the Ghanaian creative sector watches with anticipation, expecting the Gong Gong Awards to transform into a more powerful platform that celebrates local genius while demanding world-class quality.