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24.12.2014 General News

Kumasi Residents Cry For Action Over Excessive Noise

By Bernard Buachi, RawGist.com
Kumasi Mayor, Kojo BonsuKumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu
24.12.2014 LISTEN

Residents of Emena, near the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology are calling on city authorities to save them from the deafening noise produced by an information centre mounted in the area.

Rawgist.com's visit to the area revealed a structure fitted with four speaker horns positioned in different directions. The information centre began its broadcasts as early as 5am producing tortuous frequencies of noise.

Their broadcasts are mainly preaching, news feed and football commentary.

Information available to rawgist.com reveals residents have shown their disapproval at the noise levels through two court actions but the operator of the facility insists he has a license to operate at that high level of noise.

“Is he saying he has the license to torture us? He doesn't even allow us a peaceful sleep. Our windows vibrate whenever they start their dawn and evening broadcasts”, one of the residents, an expatriate complained bitterly.

Another foreigner, Alfred Morgan who also complained independently about the noise to rawgist.com describing how the noise makes life unbearable for his family due to their proximity to the source. He finds it strange that Ghanaian authorities will give others the license to make excessive noise without giving residents a choice as to whether they want to listen or not.

“The sound is so loud that it's distorted and that's what wakes us up ubruptly early in the morning. We cannot even regulate it. The man who runs the place is so confident in his license he has refused to even tone it down”, the frustrated man complained.

Noise has many serious health implications on the citizenry. Hearing impairment, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, changes in the immune system, birth defects among several other psychological conditions result directly from continuous exposure to noise.

However, Kumasi has become a hub for noise making. A walk around the central business district reveals several self-styled “men of God” who mount powerful speakers and make so much noise in the name of God.

Many residents want city authorities to take action and bring some sanity to the Ashanti regional capital.

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