“We have beautiful laws, but no compliance” – Awula Serwah urges action on noise pollution

Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has lamented the gap between Ghana’s robust noise pollution regulations and their poor enforcement, warning that non-compliance poses serious health risks.

Speaking to ABC Midday News ahead of International Noise Awareness Day on April 30, she observed that while Ghana boasts “beautiful laws,” authorities routinely fail to uphold them.

“It’s not only about our hearing; it can also lead to other diseases,” Serwah noted, emphasizing the wider public health implications of unchecked environmental noise.

Highlighting frequent violations by churches and event centres, Serwah criticized law enforcement agencies for their inaction.

“A lot of churches and event centres make excessive noise, and most of the time the pollution continues because those who are supposed to enforce are not doing their job properly,” she said.

Questioning the effectiveness of the judicial process, she asked, “How often do you find that someone has been put before court for noise pollution?”

The apparent reluctance of regulators to prosecute offenders, she argued, undermines both public confidence and compliance.

To address this enforcement vacuum, Serwah called on the Environmental Protection Agency and local authorities to exercise their criminal-offense mandate rigorously.

She urged comprehensive training for officials on noise regulations and the establishment of a dedicated hotline for citizens to report violations. pollution.