AAG pushes for regulatory authority

The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) has reiterated its call for the passage of the Advertising Authority Bill (AAB) into law to ensure sanity in the advertising and publicity industry.

According to the association, the bill was forwarded to Parliament last year after the association approved a memorandum on it at its 37th meeting in 2015.

The passage of the bill is expected to create, among others, an advertising standards authority to regulate the sector.

The President of the association, Mr Joel  E. Nettey, made the call during a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (MTI), Mr Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, in Accra.

Mr Nettey was accompanied by the Executive Director of the association, Mr Francis Dadzie; a council member, Mr Togbor Mensah, a past president of the AAG, Mr Reginald Laryea, and others.

Commitment

Mr Nettey presented a copy of the bill to the minister and said although the industry was facing challenges, the association remained committed to making progress.

“Efforts have been made by the previous government to pass the Bill, therefore, it is our greatest desire to see this government pass it into law to ensure sanity in the advertising industry,” he stated.

Billboards

In response, Mr Ahenkorah said the ministry would institute a public-private sector dialogue to receive public input and settle on the right standards in the industry, adding that, regular business reforms to maximise the potential of the sector would also be discussed.

The deputy minister expressed concern over the haphazard citing of billboards across the country and urged the AAG to ensure that sanity prevailed even in the absence of a law.

“I believe the Bill, if passed into law, will address such issues,” he stated.