According to him, the haphazard manner in which billboards were being mounted along the principal and cere­monial streets, particularly in Accra and the major cities were worrying.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday, about the disorderly manner in which billboards are being mounted in the country, he said the numer­ous billboards scattered across the country posed a threat to public safety as it obstruct visibility on the roads.

Mr Doe mentioned that the relevant authorities must take the granting of permits for mounting of billboards seriously.
    

He suggested that proper scrutiny must be done before permits were issued to advertising companies and individuals to erect billboards.

“Permits should not be issued to just anyone who applies with­out proper scrutiny,” Mr Doe said, adding that, “Any attempt to prioritise revenue generation over road safety is both irresponsible and unacceptable.”

According to him, under no circumstance should the safety and well-being of road users be compromised in pursuit of mon­etary gains.

Also, Mr Doe stressed the need for thorough assessment to be done in the locations where billboards were to be cited before permits were issued for same to ensure that billboards did not pose a threat to public safety or obstruct visibility on the roads.

“Authorities must always take proactive steps to prevent accidents caused by poorly placed or unstable structures,” Mr Doe added.

He stated that mounting billboards along the principal and ceremonial streets were becom­ing a nuisance that compromised both environmental aesthetics and public safety.

“As I commute to work every day from Peduase to Kanda, I keep pondering over the prolif­eration of advertising sign posts in our road medians. And the question I keep asking myself is, the craze for revenue generation worth the nuisance?” he won­dered.

He further questioned the long-term value of such adver­tising initiatives, citing a lack of balance in sustainability efforts.

“Is this stream of revenue generation sustainable? Are we balancing our pursuit for the three components of sustainability; environmental, economic and social?” Mr Doe questioned.

He said the wrongful place­ment of billboards posed road safety hazards, particularly for pedestrians.

According to him, signposts installed in medians often ob­struct visibility and endanger lives.

Moreover, he bemoaned that the wrong placement of billboards on medians obstruct pedestrians’ view of oncoming vehicles and posed hazard to road users.

Mr Doe advocated the greening of road medians, as it had environmental, safety, and socio-economic benefit.

Greening median of roads, especially those in urban areas, Mr Doe emphasized, would not only be for beautification of the cities, but also contribute to road safety, environmental sustainability and socioeconomic development.