Information centres in Sunyani said to be operating illegally
Mr Anthony Duah, Senior Programmes Officer at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Sunyani, has observed that information centres in the Municipality are operating illegally.
He pointed out that all the 28 information centres operating in the Municipality are contravening the guidelines for their operations.
Mr Duah warned that any centre that refuse to operate within the confines of the environmental laws and guidelines would be closed down.
He gave the warning at a day’s stakeholders’ meeting on the mitigation of noise pollution in the Brong-Ahafo Region, particularly in Sunyani.
The meeting on the theme: “Community Noise Reduction: Responsibility of All,” discussed the effects and causes of noise as an emerging environmental issue and the legal requirement as well as guidelines aimed at controlling noise by the public.
It was attended by about 40 participants including the media, information centre operators, Christian and Islamic leaders, and representatives from the Municipal Assembly, Municipal Town and Country Planning Department and Municipal Health Directorate.
Mr Duah said noise pollution is a silent killer because it adversely affect the lives of millions of people.
He said it could damage both the physiological and psychological health of people.
Mr Samuel Oteng, Principal Programmes Officer and Acting Regional Director of EPA, said available data indicate an increasing trend of noise complaints from varied sources over the past two years.
He said religious and information centres are the most worrying among all the reported cases.
Mr Oteng observed that the level of noise pollution in the society now “Is a challenging time for our health and environment in general”.
He called for unity and strength of purpose among Ghanaians including politicians, key State institutions, opinion leaders, civil society and community based organisations to act expeditiously to save the situation.
Mr Augustine Kusi, Regional Director of Town and Country Planning Department, urged information centre operators and stakeholders to co-operate with the EPA and Municipal and District Assemblies to operate within the confines of the environmental laws and guidelines, to promote sustainable environment, orderliness, peace and development in the society.
Source: GNA