Authorities to Pull Down Covid-19 Billboards Showing Akufo-Addo without Face Mask

Billboards urging Ghanaians to wear masks amid the covid-19 pandemic will be pulled down because they display an image of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo not wearing a face mask.

Ghana’s Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah who disclosed this, said although government appreciates the effort,  advertisers must engage with government on imaging and messaging on future advertisements.

Over the past week, billboards have sprung up in Accra showing an image of President Akufo-Addo without a facemask. However, these supposed covid-19 advertisements were captioned: "Wear a mask wherever you go. It will help protect you from the virus".

Some critics have questioned the visual communication of the advertisement but the Minister of Information says the billboard is not from the government.

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"We appreciate all who seek to help Govt communicate at this time. But pls do well to engage with Govt on imaging and messaging. This billboard of the President without a mask is not from Govt. Note that at his last public appearance the President wore his masks till his speech," the Information Minister tweeted.

"We have asked city authorities to pull this down. We encourage the well intentioned advertisers to engage with us directly to avoid such mishaps in the future".

Ghana's Ministry of Health (MoH) had earlier directed the use of face masks in all public places where it may be difficult to maintain social distancing.

The Ministry in a statement said the directive was pursuant to section 169 of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851). Section 170 (1) of the Act provides that the Minister of Health may order an individual to take a preventive measure in respect of public health matters.

That directive came after President Akufo-Addo had encouraged all Ghanaians to wear face masks.