Accra, March 17, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Special=

Taskforce has embarked on an operation to confiscate musical instruments from some recalcitrant churches and drinking bars whose activities create= a high level of noise above the permissible decibel.

This follows a direction from the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, due to persistent public complaints to check the menace and arrest offenders who violate the laws and create a nuisance to=

the public.

Dr Simpson Anim Boateng, Director of Public Health of the AMA, who m= ade this known to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Wednesday=

said, the incidence of noise nuisance in the metropolis is alarming, sayi= ng that, "people disregard the bye-laws on noise".

He said there was the need to enforce the laws on noise making to ensure sanity in the metropolis.

Dr Boateng said noise prone areas that the taskforce visited and identified as worse offenders were La, Spintex Road, Abeka Lapaz, Dansoma= n, Darkuman, Zongo and Larterbiokorshie all in Accra.

He said permissible noise level for residential areas is 55 decibels=

during the day and 48 at night, adding that, the taskforce would ensure t= hat operators of such facilities comply with the AMA directives to abate nois= e nuisance in Accra. He warned that the exercise was going to continue to minimize noise making in the metropolis.