Noise Making in Ho banned at Night

Ho M.C.E

After several public complaints over excessive noise making in the Volta regional capital of Ho, the Municipal Assembly on Thursday banned ‘excessive noise’ making in the municipality after 10PM.

Consequently, churches, mosques, drinking bars, corn mill and sawmill operators, hawkers and individuals are not expected to make ‘excessive noise’ deep into the night or face sanctions.

Mrs Fafa Adinyira, Ho Municipal Chief Executive at a stakeholder meeting on noise making in the Municipality, said the Assembly continued to receive complaints from the public on noise level in the Ho Township and said the Assembly would soon start enforcing its laws on noise making.

Togbe Akliku Ahorney, Volta Regional Manager of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said stress associated with noise making was “great” and urged churches to help ‘shape’ attitude of society.

He also called on operators of night clubs to install sound proof systems and ensure that the noise they generated was within their precincts.

Mr Kofi Tenasu Gbedemah, a Human Right Activist, said excessive noise in churches could kill worshipers.

“I am not against the churches but the noise they generate can kill their worshipers and affect the sick and aged who live around the churches. They must also not forget that there are hospitals around them and essential workers work at night,” he stated.

Reverend Robert Kwao, Volta Regional Chairman of Ghana Pentecostal and Christian Churches (GPCC) enumerated socio-economic benefits society derived from churches and said churches did not make noise deliberately to make others uncomfortable.

“We are sensitive to society and we will go by the directive not to make noise after 10PM,” he promised.

The EPA says noise pollution is sound that is disordered and irregular, producing an unpleasant sensation that is unwanted or that interferes with the ability to hear.

Motor vehicle, blowing of sirens and horns, hawkers, sawmills, corn mills, social gatherings and religious bodies are the main sources of noise creation in Ho.

Noise is said to cause emotional upset and ailments such as indigestion, ulcers, heartburn and gastrointestinal malfunctions in the body.

Industrial noise exposes workers to high blood pressure and heart abnormalities and can affect vision, circulatory and nervous systems.

Credit: GNA