Generator use creating noise problems for Tema residents

Tema, April 18, GNA - Reports received by the Tema Office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicate that churches contribute largely to noise making in the communities.

In the first quarter of this year, the residents have lodged 10 complaints against the churches and the office has asked the churches concerned, mostly the charismatic ones, to reduce their "all night" church services.

The Senior Programme Officer of the Tema Office of the EPA revealed this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Tema to mark the second national noise awareness day that fell on Monday, April 16. The day was observed under the theme "Control noise, protect your health".

He said despite warnings, the churches continue to ignore the EPA's directives and rather called at the office to trade insults and curses on the officials while their "prayer warriors" pray in the background with the intention to change the mind of the officials.

These Churches, which he described as the most difficult group to deal with, normally use loud musical instruments, shout while praying, sing loudly and dance through out the night coupled with their "deliverance" during worship.

Mr Tettey said the recalcitrant ones are made to sign undertakings so that when they flout it they are sent to court.

Other sources of noise in the municipality are the drinking bars, factories, lorry stations, social gatherings among others but of all the churches contribute to about 70 percent.

The Programme Officer said his outfit is also grappling with numerous complaints received from residents about generators causing excessive noise.

He advised those using generators to house and install silencers to control the noise else the law would deal with them.

He said ideally landlords and ladies are mandated to involve officials of EPA when installing vital items in the house to ensure their proper location in order not to cause inconvenience to neighbours but they fail to abide by the law.

To enable the public appreciate the harmful effects of noise making, his office is intensifying its education drive starting from the schools and this would be extended to the communities. Mr Tettey said the noise awareness day was set aside in 2004 in the country to draw public attention to the harmful effects of noise on health and hearing ability.

He said the head office of the EPA has procured 15 noise meters at three billion cedis for its regional and district offices for monitoring purposes. 187 April 2007