The Deputy Minister of Environment Science and Technology, Dr. Edward Omane-Boamah said government has acquired a new noise sampler for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to check public noise levels, particularly from churches and night clubs.

Speaking on Metro TV Good Morning Ghana Show, the Deputy Minister noted that the investment was part of government’s commitment to protecting the public from stress and other health effects of noise.

He said “the acceptable noise level is 48 decibels so anything beyond that tantamount to disturbance of the public peace and a violation of law.” The Deputy Minister noted that several independent churches located within residential areas disturb their neighbours in the name of worshiping God, saying that what they did not realize was that they create health problems with the level of noise they make.

“The Bible says love your neighbors so one would have thought that as Christians we will love our neighbours enough not to disturb their peace and give them stress,” he said. Dr. Omane Boamah noted that some independent churches rather tend to describe people who complain about their noise as demons and enemies of Christ. He said government has a responsibility to ensure that people’s rights are not violated so “we have asked all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to get serious with dealing with noise in their respective areas, not only from the churches but also from the night clubs.” The Deputy Minister said the use of classrooms and football parks within residential areas for prayers was also disturbing and must be curbed. Dr. Omane-Boamah said more importantly the EPA has also been asked to engage the churches, in particular, on how they can make their church buildings sound-proof to keep the noise within.

He noted that places like the National Theatre and the Accra International Conference Centre were sound-proof so even though so much noise goes on within the building during functions, no noise gets out. “It is about time our churches begin to consider the sound technology of their buildings to cut out the amount of noise that emanates from their buildings into their neighbourhoods,” he said.

The Deputy Minister however noted that churches can use relatively secluded locations like the forests and other non-residential locations for their prayers so long as they do not disturb anybody.

Story by: Samuel Dowuona