KMA Moves to Curb Noise Making in Kumasi

by: Misbahu B Bulmuo

Excessive noise making has become a nuisance to many residents and visitors to the garden city, Kumasi. The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has therefore started a process that would ensure that existing bye-laws regulating sound levels are enforced to the letter to bring sanity to the metropolis.

In an interview, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the KMA, Mr. Clement Kagere, said the process of stopping noise in the city started several months back and the KMA is collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out the task.

Sources of excessive noise making identified in Kumasi include places of worship, drinking spots, mobile preachers, movie music albums merchants and other event organizers. All of these are very conspicuous in the major business districts of the city.

Residents on several occasions have had reason to complain about the excessive sound that emanate from the activities of some persons who themselves think they are engaged in legal activities.

Mr. Kagere says that the assembly is not out to harass the people but only to ensure that the laws are enforced to bring sanity to the city.

According to him, instruments and other advanced equipment have been procured to be used in measuring the level of sounds. He urged people who generate sound from their activities to comply with the right levels to be set.

The PRO said the acceptable level of sound to be generated by any person would not exceed 80 decibel (the unit for measuring the loudness of noise) and the parties involved would be notified.

Any form of noise beyond 80 decibel constitutes noise pollution and goes contrary to the law. According to him, a special task force would be deployed to ensure that members of the public comply with this measure.

Existing regulations on noise making stipulate that any form of sound generated should not go beyond the confines of the activities producing the noise so as not to offend other members of the public.

Mr Kagere disclosed that special permits would now be granted to businesses whose activities generate sound and the permit would spell out to them the permissible levels of sound that can be generated.

He said issuing permits would make it easier for the metropolitan assembly to be able to track people and businesses that produce sound.

In a related development, the sanitation department of the assembly has now been equipped to be able to handle the new task and technical know-how is to be provided by the EPA.

Meanwhile, city dwellers have welcomed the move by the city authorities.