The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has expressed worry over rising noise pollution in the country.

Speaking in a recent interview with Channel One TV, she said it remains one of the most challenging issues the EPA faces, despite frequent complaints.

According to her, the EPA frequently receives reports from residents affected by noise from churches, mosques, nightclubs, businesses, livestock, and other sources.

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She said the agency responds by deploying monitoring teams to measure noise levels and determine compliance with environmental standards.

"It's a difficult area for us as EPA. It's very challenging to control noise in this noise monitoring. We can monitor to give the results, but to control and regulate the situation is a big challenge for us.

"We get a lot of complaints from neighbours, if it's not church or mosque, it is a nightclub, business, animals, birds or livestock or something, some kind of noise. So, we get complaints all the time from neighbours," she stated.

Prof Klutse said while the EPA can monitor and provide technical data on noise levels, enforcing compliance remains difficult.

She urged churches, mosques, nightclubs, and other establishments to minimise noise output.

"Churches, mosques, nightclubs and open clubs should minimise noise as much as possible. If the neighbours are not complaining, no problem, but once we hear or receive complaints, we have to act as EPA.

"We issue warnings, or we issue penalties depending on the level of non-compliance", she stated.

Prof Browne Klutse stressed the need for public cooperation in addressing noise pollution.

JKB/SEA

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