CUTS International has called on Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enforce regulations on billboard placement in a bid to reduce road traffic accidents caused by visual obstructions and driver distractions. At a press conference held on Wednesday, July 23, at the Ghana International Press Centre, Appiah Kusi Adomako, West Africa Regional Director of CUTS International, described the growing number of road crashes as a “crisis” requiring immediate government intervention. “Travelling on our roads today requires fasting and prayer as well as faith because of the increasing dangers our road traffic journey has become,” Adomako said. According to data from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Ghana recorded 7,289 road crashes involving 12,354 vehicles in the first half of 2025 alone. These incidents resulted in 1,504 deaths and over 8,300 injuries—representing a 22% increase in fatalities and a 10% rise in injuries compared to the same period in 2024. “These are not just numbers,” Adomako stressed. “Each statistic represents a person, a family, a future abruptly ended. They are breadwinners, children, mothers, teachers, traders, and drivers who left home and never returned. They are our loved ones, colleagues, and neighbours.” In response to the alarming trend, CUTS International has proposed 14 policy recommendations, including amendments to road traffic regulations and reforms to blood alcohol and safety laws. A key proposal—listed as the 10th measure—calls on MMDAs to regulate the siting of billboards to prevent visual obstruction and distraction. “Local authorities must ensure that billboards and advertisements do not obstruct driver visibility or distract road users,” the organisation said. “Dangerous or illegal signage must be taken down immediately with the support of the police.” Adomako also shared a personal example to highlight the real-world consequences of unregulated billboard placement. “There’s a particular junction near my home. If I want to turn left, I have to pull forward just to see oncoming traffic. Why? Because the District Assembly has permitted over 20 billboards at that junction,” he said. In a related move, the NRSA has issued a 21-day ultimatum to 29 MMDAs to remove unauthorised billboards along roadways. Failure to comply, the Authority warned, would result in legal action against the respective assemblies. Despite these efforts, CUTS International is urging the government to take bolder action by declaring road crashes a national public health emergency—on par with pandemics and natural disasters. According to the NRSA, Ghana loses an average of eight lives every day due to road crashes.