How Land Use Planning can mobilise Revenue from outdoor advertisement for development in Ejisu Municipal Assembly

Abstract

Urban planning and basic service delivery by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in Ghana require huge financial resources, yet many MMDAs struggle to mobilise sufficient local revenues. However, several billboards springing up on a daily basis present a potential source of revenue mobilisation. How can MMDAs leverage on land use planning to raise revenues from billboards? In Ejisu Municipality there is huge potential revenue from the many billboards, many of them have not acquired the appropriate permits, resulting in the Assembly losing local revenues. The paper employs mixed method design interviewing high-profile revenue officials of the Assembly and owners of the billboards. The findings show that billboard owners are not aware that they require permits, some are aware but just flout the law. The study concludes that the Ejisu Municipal Assembly has failed to sufficiently enforce permitting procedures and regulations, which inhibit revenue mobilisation for development.