THE Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has served notice that it has teeth to bite those who breach its bye-laws. It says its task force will soon embark on an exercise to arrest recalcitrant noise polluters.
The assembly has been pushed to take this action because noise pollution has become a major problem facing many residents of the national capital, including places which are regarded as first-class residential areas.
It is clear that many residents are ignorant of the permissible noise levels in their areas.
A statement issued by the AMA categorically stated that the equipment used by offenders would be seized, while they would further be prosecuted in accordance with Section 28 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act 490 and AMA bye-laws on the abatement of noise nuisance.
Although the action of the AMA comes late in the day, it should be commended.
Noise pollution has reached unbearable levels in the capital and, according to the AMA, more than 100 complaints on noise nuisance were lodged with the Metropolitan Public Health Department in 2009.
A high percentage of those complaints were about the high levels of noise-making by churches, most of which operated without permits.
The other complaints were against drinking spots, night-clubs, restaurants, musical CD and VCD selling shops, electric power generators and other commercial activities.
A more recent and disturbing phenomenon is the activities of vendors of cassettes, VCDs and DVDs who ply their trade in moving vehicles with huge loud speakers blaring loud music to disturb members of the public.
Besides the discomfort of noise pollution on residents, health experts also say it has numerous health implications. Exposure to loud noise causes stress, hypertension, hearing impairment, among other medical conditions.
Others who get exposed to excessive noise pollution also risk hearing loss, especially for people above 60.
Noise pollution causes sleep disturbances, a situation which can result in fatigue, psychological and mental disorders, interference with task performance and generates annoyance among people.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, associates itself with the move by the AMA to curb this menace.
We hope, however, that this latest move by the AMA will not be a nine days’ wonder because similar efforts in the past yielded very little by way of result.
It must be noted that the EPA has organised a series of educational activities to sensitise the public to the negative effects of exposure to loud noise but to no avail.
It has even gone further to procure noise meters which calibrate noise and provide noise level guidelines during the day and night.
The problem with our country is our inability to enforce regulations. We are faced with challenges in most spheres of our national life because those who have been empowered to act look on in helpless amazement as a few lawless elements take law-abiding citizens to ransom.
It is common knowledge that certain activities of commercial nature are not to be tolerated in residential areas but the city authorities are not able to enforce its bye-laws. This time around, it is hoped the AMA will be able to police its own regulations.
We urge the public to heed the AMA’s call that anybody experiencing noise nuisance in any neighbourhood should contact the Metro Public Health Department of the assembly at Adjabeng for swift action.
This will ensure the success of the AMA’s exercise to reduce the escalating noise levels in the city.
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