As of now, people are still battling with noise in their localities because the laws which are supposed to help those who come to report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about excessive noise making in their respective areas are non-existent.

Now a days, churches, schools and discotheques are planted at residential areas, and these institutions normally make the most harsh and unnatural noise. This results in unreasonable discomfort to people in the affected areas.

At Tema community 3, Sakumono Estate and others, there has been many calls by residents for help against such noises but nothing has been done about the situation.

The noise making becomes very unbearable during weekends when roads leading to people's homes are blocked by people other than the owners for burial ceremony. Loudspeakers and amplifiers are usually used for this activity and even when a neighbour goes to ask them to reduce the noise this turns into a misunderstanding and sometimes leads to quarrels.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), noise can cause pain and hearing fatigue; hearing impairment including tinnitus; annoyance; interferences with social behaviour (aggressiveness, protest and helplessness); interference with speech communication and sleep disturbance. Cardiovascular effect, hormonal responses and their possible consequences on human metabolism (nutrition) and immune system; performance at work and school are what one could get if noise is not controlled.

Noise pollution is described as the sleeping volcano of environmental issues, lagging behind air and water pollution on the political agenda.

WHO has indicated that urban noise is one of life stressors and when excessive, it affects human health and interferes with peace, comfort and convenience of individuals and groups of persons.

The prevailing source of artificial noise pollution is from transportation. In rural areas, train and airplane noise can disturb wildlife habits, thereby affecting the manner in which animals in areas around train tracks and airports hunt and mate. In urban areas, automobile, motorcycle, and even entertainment noise can cause sleep disruption in humans and animals, hearing loss, heart disease (as a result of stress), and in severe cases even mental instability.

Noise complaints received by the EPA from the major urban settlements in the country have increased over the last few years.

In fact noise complaints outnumbered all other complaints received by EPA for the year 2008. For example, in the Accra Metropolis alone the Agency received a total of 103 complaints. Out of this number, 41 representing 40% were on noise.

One of the major concerns many people, especially parents, have on noise is the effect it has on children. Additionally noise affects concentration and behavior in youngsters and thus, their ability to learn. This applies to children at school as well as children at home trying to study.

Though there are directives by the EPA on how noise should be controlled, that is for people to inform your neighbour before you carry out any noisy activity, and be able to reduce when asked by a neighbour, it is important for them to also be quick in solving complaints from the public.

This year's celebration should be a wake up call to the EPA, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, law enforcement agencies and Traditional Authorities to use their authority to reduce noise in their respective localities.

Ghanadot