Hooray ! At last the unnecessary noise levels which have been was tolerated by the Ghanaian public have now been acknowledged as a nuisance and causing ill health.
God or Allah our Heavenly father is everywhere 24/7. Whether one is in a pit or high up in the skies He is still watching over us. So why the need to create nuisance noise to disturb our friends and neighbours because a group of us want to communicate with Him. Ghanaians and other African nations may need to reflect on this simple message. God is so near us than we ever thought. On the contrary, God loves well discipline and cultured children not hooligans who create noise beyond levels and cause such nuisance plus ill health. Shame on all those still engaged such nonsense. These type of worshipping could easily be labelled as a form hooligans needing abesbos. Would any parent allow their child to shout and scream for their desired needs and wants or politely ask for their needs and wants? As parent I ask , which kind of child would be your preferred choice the noisy one with a long shoppinfg list or the polite one who take sothers people interest into accounts? Fellow Ghanaians based on these basic facts we do experience in this world with our own children and families we are actually falling short in communicating with God. I would proudly say that, there is no need to shout when worshipping God. Jesus the only the Son of God, communicated with his father in quietness away from world noises. Is this the example enough to create awareness for peace and quite way of worship? So what is our problem. Shouting and shouting yet we are stealing from the poor, when it comes to the distribution of state funds, lying between our teeth and only thinking of ourselves. There is too much inequality in health, education, employment etc. To date there are still vulnerable Ghanaians attending basic school under trees with no purposeful playgrounds? Do we call Ghana a Christian and Moslem country where there is equality. Come on who do we think we are kidding but ourselves. Yet there is too much corruption, bribery from top most Government position to the very bottom, elected Ministers collecting state trusted commissions they come in contact with through the signing of agreement or contract and pocketing in foreign accounts or in the name of girlfriends etc.
I just want to thank the Environmental Protection Agency for taking this stance, however I would like to stress that, it would be helpful for the public to know what the acceptable decibels for noise is in . This would give the general public the upper hand to monitor any high level and report those responsible for causing unnecessary noise. It may be helpful to link up with other Environmental Protection Agency video conferencing and emails to see what they are doing. Currently the general public is not aware of the impact noise pollution on their health as stated by Mr Daniel Amlalo the Deputy Director of EPA on 16/10/2007, that "Noise contributes to ailments like indigestion, ulcers, heartburn and gastrointestinal malfunctions in the body," he said, adding that, workers exposed to industrial noise often suffered from high blood pressure and other heart abnormalities.
During one of my trip to Ghana someone did complained about the noise level of a local church, however the Church Minister was quick to point the finger on that individual that he was a witch and that the congregation must be vigilant against the devil. On the other hand, if we know our right in terms of noise pollution, accepted decibles and have leaflets to go with these rules to challenge any one who violates them the general public would feel safer than the current situation.
What is the EPA going to do about Ghana noise level regulations not forgetting that our old folks do not have the means of purchasing hearing aids due to loss of hearing and etc? Indeed excessive noise pollution is certainly affected our lives indirectly. Would it be worth to introduce a ban on the excessive noise level made by some churches or Mosques particularly during the night, midnight ? As an agency would be more than happy that instead of appealling to those concerns it would be rather helpful if an acceptable noise level in introduced. Such a move would empower the general public to monitor the exact acceptable decibles for noise making throughout Ghana.
Source: Bolus, Mercy Adede
