EPA vows to tackle noise nuisance

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has expressed concern over the growing nuisance of noise pollution, particularly in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Dr Francis Nyagbanu, Ashanti Regional Chief Programmes Officer, said the agency is inundated with complaints from the public and vowed to deal with the unhealthy situation.

Addressing a stakeholders meeting in Kumasi, he said, substantial proportion of cases they received, last year, were noise-related.

He identified the churches, information centres, pubs, bars and mobile advertisement as the major offenders.

He said the Agency has worked out strategies to restore some level of sanity.

Mrs Angelina Ama Tutuah Mensah, Head of the Agenda for Climate Change Unit of the EPA, said noise was an emerging issue that must not be taken for granted.

Excessive noise tends to make people irritated and could fuel the high blood pressure disease, she added.

Mrs Mensah advised the youth to desist from constant use of head-phones to avoid hearing defects.

The meeting comes ahead of the national noise awareness day celebration, fixed for April 23-25 in Kumasi.

Activities planned to mark the event include radio discussions and symposium.

It would be climaxed with a grand durbar and the un-veiling of a billboard on noise pollution by the sector Minister.**