National Noise Awareness Day – April 16, 2008

 
Welcome Address By Mr. J. A. Allotey, Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency

 
Mr. Chairman

Minister of Local Government Rural Development and Environment

The Media,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

 
Let me take this opportunity to also welcome all of you to the Third Annual National Noise Awareness Day with the theme “Noise Reduction: Our Collective Responsibility”.

 
Every single day, People are losing their hearing. The amount of noise in the world is increasing all the time. In Ghana, a detailed survey of the levels of noise generated by different activities identified other major significant sources of excessive noise from commercial and residential activities. Indeed, the significant proportion of complaints received by MBA’s, the Police and the EPA is related to such neighbourhood noise.

 
The issue of noise pollution has been one of the Agency’s priority areas since 1982. Noise level data was developed from extensive monitoring of the Accra Metropolis. In 1994 the noise levels data was collected from five representative built environments, namely:

• Residential areas with negligible/infrequent transportation e.g. Airport and East Legon areas;
• Residential areas with some commercial or light industry;
• Residential areas with industry, places of entertainment, public assembly, as well as some places of worship such as churches and mosques;
• Predominantly commercial and Light industrial areas; and
• Predominantly heavy industrial areas.

 
Based on EPA’s noise monitoring in the Metropolis as well as complaints on noise pollution investigation, realistic Ambient Noise Levels Guidelines for the country was developed.

 
The Environmental Protection Agency continues to monitor noise levels especially in urban areas, and this morning we will have the opportunity to share with you some of the disturbing findings of this monitoring programme.

 
It is in the light of the above that we deem today’s Noise Awareness Day celebration very appropriate and timely. It is our expectation that this event will enable us to:

• Create public awareness about the hazards of noise nuisance and its impacts on health and welfare of our people ;
• Educate the population on noise control provisions in our various national noise  guidelines and enforcement procedures that must be enforced by the Police,  MDA’s and the Environmental Protection Agency and the community at large;
• Create awareness of the existence of EPA guidelines for the maximum permissible levels for residential, commercial and industrial areas. That makes it easier to prosecute noise polluters.

 
Mr Chairman, since serious hearing loss is a handicap that leads to significant changes in attitude and behaviour or complete social isolation there is the need to work in concert with all stakeholders to reduce noise hearing impairments in Ghana. It is our national desire to return to pristine times when pleasant and soothing sounds like birds singing and wind movements in tress and heard.

 
On this note, I welcome all of you to this important function.

Thank you.