EPA says noise making in Western Region on the increase

Mr. Yaw Sarfo-Afriyie, the Regional Environmental Director, said on Tuesday that his office had been receiving complaints about excessive noise making and it was time action was taken against noise makers.

“In recent times EPA has been inundated with complaints about noise in the Western Region,” he said at a stakeholders meeting on Tuesday on noise making in Takoradi.

Mr. Sarfo-Afriyie said excessive noise making has serious health problems and called for efforts by stakeholders to address the issue.

He said the EPA had stepped up its inspection to clamp down on offenders and warned them to desist from the practice or face the law.

Mr. Emmanuel Egya Appoh, Senior Programme Officer of the EPA, said noise making should not be taken for granted because though not loud to pose hearing risk it could increase stress and affect the health and well being of people.

Mr Appoh mentioned some effects of noise making as buzzing or ringing in the ears and muffled speech after exposure to noise, indicating that the noise impact was great.

The stakeholders comprise representatives from Drinking Bar Association, spinners, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District assemblies and the Christian Council of Ghana.

The stakeholders identified drinking bar operators, spinners and the churches as the worst offenders and called on their leaders to check the practice.

Source: GNA