Climate Change & Energy
Noise Pollution: "Rapid Response Teams not enough, publish contact numbers"- public to EPA
Source: ghenvironment.com - December 29, 2022
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Some members of the public are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ghana Police Service, and the various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to publish contact numbers to allow them to report on noise pollution or nuisance in their localities.
Last week, the Chief Executive Officer of EPA, Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, revealed that the Agency would tighten its enforcement to curb noise pollution across the country.
Speaking at a press conference to highlight some measures put in place by the EPA during this festive season, Dr Kokofu said that, from 23rd December to the 1st of January, 2023 which is the peak of the festivities, the Agency will deploy the services of Environmental Inspectors with rapid mobility at event centers, pubs, and lounges as well as worship places, to make sure they do not exceed the permissible ambient noise requirements.
But, speaking in an interview with Ghenvironment.com, some members of the public noted that, it is not enough to deploy the services of environmental inspectors as the EPA has provided no contact number to the public.
“How would the EPA know that, there is noise pollution going on at a particular location without being reported to them? They can’t be everywhere and that is why there should be an available contact number to enable us to report noise pollution”, Naa Toshie, a resident of La Dadekotopon and victim of noise pollution said.
She recounted her ordeal on 23rd December this year as a result of noise pollution from the Shiloh Restoration Christian Movement, and how she struggled to get an Environmental Officer by the name Mr. George to respond to the issue which in the end yielded no results.
She said that Shiloh always conducts noisy services from about 6:30PM to 10:00PM on Tuesdays and Sundays and the activities increased as expected during the Yuletide.
“By the time the Rapid Response Team arrived the activity from Shiloh was over and according to the officer he spoke to the Pastor about noise pollution. Unfortunately, the advice had little effect as Shiloh conducted noisy services the following day, and on 25th December”.
She added “As the Rapid Response team was preparing to leave Shiloh on 23rd December, their attention was drawn to noise nuisance from a venue known as Oshiapem, Wireless, La which is less than 5 minutes from Shiloh. It is not clear whether the team went to Oshiapem but noise including drumming from Jezreel Prayer Ministry which was operating from Oshiapem went on until the early hours of the following morning causing misery to residents and damaging their health”.
According to Naa Toshie, the noise nuisance from Jezreel was also reported to La the Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, and the recordings were sent to the MCE Hon. Solomon Kote-Nikoi and the Coordinating Director, Mr. Daniel Nkrumah.
“Mr. Nkrumah's only comment was whether we sat at our home and got this sound”, she said with amazement at the comment.
Mr Ibrahim Sulley, a resident of Darkuman, also in Accra is proposing that the Responding Teams are provided with a feedback form to be signed by complainants to ensure that the response team actually goes to the source of noise-making and deals effectively with the problem.
He said, MMDAs should arrange visits to drinking spots, places of worship, and event centres in their area to identify businesses operating without a licence, adding, those with permits should be educated on noise nuisance.
“We can reduce noise nuisance and restore sanity if we have the will to enforce laws, bye-laws, and regulations. Educating on abatement of noise is important but enforcement is critical”, he added.
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