[ 2012-05-21 ]

Tumbled bill board

AMA, AAG in war of words over disastrous rainstorm
The rainstorm that wrecked havoc, Saturday, has
sparked a bitter war of words between the
Advertisers Association of Ghana (AAG) and the
Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

The storm ripped off roofs, tumbled many trees and
sent many giant bill boards in the Accra
Metropolis crashing to the ground.

The AAG is accusing the AMA of being responsible
for the collapse of the bill boards.

President of the AAG, Francis Dadzie told Joy News
the AMA in mounting the giant bill boards has
thrown safety standards to the dogs and are only
interested in collecting revenues from
advertisers.

He said in the past the AAG exercised utmost
precaution in mounting bill boards, taking due
cognizance of the positioning of the bill boards,
pedestrian walkways and minimizing the effects in
the likely event of a disaster.

Those precautions, Dazdie noted, have been swept
under the carpet, with the ability to pay now the
tag line of the AMA.

He said once the AMA collects their revenue they
pay little attention to the safety standards by
the advertisers.

But in a reaction, the Accra Mayor said Mr Dadzie
is being irresponsible in his comments.

Alfred Vanderpuije said in the AMA's bid to ensure
safety standards and to remove illegal billboards
mounted at unauthorized areas, Mr. Dazdie and his
group took the AMA to court.

He wondered how the AAG will now turn around and
accuse the AMA of being responsible for the
collapse of the bill boards.

He said it was time for the AAG to do the right
thing and admonished the AAG president to be
responsible in his comments and actions.

Vanderpuije said the AMA will not renege on its
responsibility to rid the city of illegal
structures and bill boards.

Commenting on the havoc caused by Saturday’s rain,
the Mayor said many buildings, both commercial and
residential, had their roofs ripped off.

According to him, electricity and telecom masts
were also forced down by the storm, with
educational institutions not spared the havoc.

Vanderpuije said the AMA is assessing the extent
of damage and will bring the situation under
control.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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