The Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) Executive Council members led by it’s President - Mr. Torgbor Mensah on Friday, July 3, 2020, met with the Minister of Trade and Industry, Honorable Alan Kojo Kyeremateng at the Ministry of Trade and Industry to discuss the progress of the Draft Advertising Council Bill.

Advertising Council Bill

The Advertising Council Bill establishes the Advertising Council to regulate the practice of advertising, register practitioners and license advertising companies. The council is to prescribe and approve courses of study for the advertising profession and to ensure that advertising is legal, honest and fruitful and that advertising protects the best interest of the consumer.

In 2016, Cabinet approved on the memoranda from the Ministry of Trade and Industry on the Advertising Council Bill. The draft Bill in that same year was gazetted by the Government press and presented to Cabinet after which it was presented to the last parliament where the first reading was heard on 11th October 2016 after which the parliament elapsed.

The President of AAG, Mr Torgbor Mensah addressing the Minister, stated the many engagements the members of the Executive Council of the AAG have had with the Ministry and it’s high level interest to support the process of getting the Bill passed together with the Ministry of Information. He mentioned efforts are sedated. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Honorable Alan Kyeremateng, assured the Executive Council members of AAG of expediting the process so advertising practitioners are properly guided by the Bill.

Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT)

The Honorable Minister mentioned that as part of the Government’s efforts to tackle the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for Ghana, the ministry is in the process of operationalizing the implementation structures for a National Programme of Action for the Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT). He stated that, accordingly, Technical Working Groups on the five priority sectors (business, communication, transportation, tourism and financial services) have been set up to ensure effective coordination and implementation of the BIAT.

Mr. Francis Dadzie, the Executive Director of the Advertising Association of Ghana has been appointed together with other Senior Officers to serve on the Trade in Services Technical Working Group (Business and Finance Services).

The Minister during the meeting also addressed the need for the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) to support Small Scale Industries and young entrepreneurs with requisite skills on how to brand and position their businesses in the minds of their consumers for good brand image and also on how to grow their Individual brands in unprecedented times.

Other members present at the meeting were; Professor Tim Acquah-Hayford, AAG Past President; Mr. Reginald Laryea, AAG Past President; Mr. Francis Dadzie, AAG Executive Director; Mr. Terrick Nii Obodai Torgbor, AAG Executive Assistant; the Honorable Minister’s team; Mr. Patrick Y. Nimo - Ag. Chief Director, Mr. Michael Opoku, Nana Yaw Adutwum, Mr. Kofi Amenya, Mad. Abena Esabo Afful and Mr. Eric Dwamena.