EPA Sunyani Assembly to collaborate to curb noise pollution

Sunyani (B/A), Sept. 11, GNA - The Brong-Ahafo Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to collaborate with the Sunyani Municipal Assembly to draw guidelines to regulate the activities of music retailers within the Municipality that move about in vehicles selling copies of musical works.

Many residents of Sunyani have in recent times expressed concern about the high noise level generated by these groups as their musical equipment produce high sounds that often disturb the peace of workers and ordinary people in the municipality.

Mr Isaac Osei, Regional Director of the EPA disclosed this to the "The Agency will analyse the situation since it is an emerging problem, which is becoming a nuisance", he stated. Mr Osei said although the EPA had guidelines on noise making, they were not made to contain the activities of these different categories of noisemakers and noted that with the new emergence new guidelines needed to be drawn to take care of their activities. "The EPA needs to measure their noise levels to ensure that they conform to acceptable standards pertaining to industrial, commercial, schools, residential areas even though they are not stationary entities", he noted.

As a way of strengthen their operations in this area, Mr Osei, said the EPA was assisting and holding discussions with local churches and recording studios within the municipality to ensure that their premises were fitted with sound-proofs to minimize the level of noise. He added that the EPA would step up its education and sensitisation of the people through radio programmes that noise at certain levels was injurious to their health. children to determine tendencies such as lies, pilfering and awkward habits and report them to educational or medical experts for attention. Mr Dei also asked parents to visit their wards in boarding schools to learn about their progress. He urged educational institutions to establish guidance and counselling units to help mould the character of the children. "Formation of study groups and social clubs to keep the youth busy will also check anti-social habits," he added.