Remove It or We Will: Roads Minister Issues One-Week Warning Over Billboard Blocking Ashaiman Flyover Plans

A billboard standing at the Ashaiman Roundabout has become the latest obstacle in Ghana's push to ease one of Greater Accra's most congested traffic corridors, with Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza issuing a firm one-week ultimatum to the structure's owner to pull it down or face government action.

The Minister made clear that the billboard is directly obstructing preparatory works for a planned flyover at the Ashaiman Roundabout — a project that commuters and residents in the area have long anticipated as a potential solution to the daily gridlock that makes travel through the junction a frustrating ordeal.

Why It Matters for Ghana

The Ashaiman Roundabout sits at a critical intersection serving thousands of commuters daily, linking communities in Ashaiman, Tema, and surrounding areas in the Greater Accra Region. Traffic build-up at this point has for years been a source of economic loss, as workers, traders and transport operators spend significant time stuck in jams that could otherwise be productive hours.

Flyover projects at busy urban junctions have proven effective elsewhere in Accra — the George Walker Bush Motorway interchange being one example — in reducing bottlenecks and improving the flow of people and goods. A flyover at Ashaiman would represent a meaningful infrastructure investment in a densely populated and commercially active part of the city.

The billboard dispute, while seemingly minor, reflects a broader challenge the government faces in clearing rights of way and resolving competing private interests before major infrastructure works can begin. Structures erected on or near road reserves — sometimes with questionable permits — have historically delayed construction timelines and driven up project costs.

The Background

Billboard ownership and placement in Ghana is regulated by local authorities and the Outdoor Advertising Association of Ghana, yet enforcement has often been inconsistent. Structures are sometimes erected in locations that later conflict with infrastructure development, creating legal and logistical headaches for road authorities.

Minister Agbodza, who represents the Volta Region's Adaklu constituency and previously served as the Minority Spokesperson on Roads before assuming his current portfolio under the new administration, has signalled an intention to move decisively on infrastructure projects. His public ultimatum over the Ashaiman billboard suggests the Ministry is unwilling to allow private structures to hold up work on key developments.

What Happens Next

Should the billboard owner fail to comply within the one-week window, it is expected that the Ministry or relevant state agencies would step in to remove the structure — potentially at the owner's cost. Such compulsory removals are not unprecedented in Ghana, though they can attract legal challenges if owners believe they have valid permits or inadequate notice.

For commuters, the ultimatum signals that work on the Ashaiman flyover may be closer to beginning in earnest. However, Ghanaians have learned to temper optimism about infrastructure timelines, as projects frequently face delays due to funding gaps, procurement processes, and site clearance issues precisely like the one playing out now.

• The flyover at Ashaiman Roundabout is intended to ease one of Accra's most congested junctions.
• Billboard owners who ignore the ultimatum risk forced removal by state authorities.
• Permit disputes over roadside structures have historically delayed Ghanaian road projects.