By: Edzorna Francis Mensah
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is urging event Organisers, Churches, Entertainment Centres and individuals to be mindful of the effect of their actions on the environment and ensure that their activities are devoid of excessive noise during this Christmas period.
As people prepare to enter the holiday season, EPA promises to be highly alert from the National, Regional to the District to be on the lookout for any Religious body or individuals to that will engage in what it referred to as excessive noise; a sound above acceptable level as it announces that “our officers have been directed to ensure compliance with prescribed standards and assist event organizers to tune their musical instruments to acceptable decibels, via 0507225790 / 0506699466 / 0506694760.”
At news conference in Accra, Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu (Esq), the Executive Director of EPA on Noise Pollution, said they are working with the police and other state security institutions to help maintain law and order throughout the period.
Dr. Kokofu said, whilst the EPA appreciates the importance of Christmas, they have a responsibility to draw the public’s attention to the fact that during this period, there is the tendency to cause noise nuisance to other members of the community and the environment.
“The general public is hereby being urged to ensure that all noise generating activities comply with the requirements of the Standard for the designated zones within which the activities take place” the EPA said.
These include noise from the following activities: Motor vehicles, Commercial activities, Industrial activities-large, medium and small-scale manufacturing facilities Entertainment activities, Night clubs, musical shops etc.
It is said, noise pollution has become a major environmental issue in recent times, adding on to the public health burden. According to the WHO, exposure to prolonged or excessive noise can cause stress, poor concentration, and productivity losses in the workplace, and communication difficulties, fatigue from lack of sleep, cardiovascular diseases, cognitive impairment and hearing loss amongst others.
For this purpose, The Environmental Protection Agency has developed the Ghana Standard for Health Protection-Requirement for Ambient Noise Control (GS 1222:2018) to regulate noise levels from various zones, i.e. residential, commercial, mixed zones and industrial areas as well as areas with educational and health facilities.
He finally wished every Ghanaian well and pledged to work together to make this holiday season, one of joy and environmental stewardship, “guided by the principles outlined in the Ghana Standard for Health Protection-Requirement for Ambient Noise Control (GS 1222:2018)”.
