Assembly Warns Churches �Install Soundproof or Face Closure

Churches within the Ga South Municipality have been given a 21-day ultimatum to install soundproof system in their church buildings or face closure. This follows complaints from residents within the municipality to the assembly to take action against churches that make excessive noise. In an interview with The 'Ghanaian Times', on Wednesday in Accra the Ga South Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Jerry Akwei Thompson, said the Assembly upon discussion with the churches within its municipality, had set April ending as the deadline for all churches to comply with the directive. He said the assembly, was enforcing bye-laws on noise making and that churches who did not comply with the directive would face the full rigours of the law. He advised churches within residential areas to regulate their sound level to between 58 decibels at night, else the law would deal with them. Mr. Thompson expressed worry about the rapid growth of churches within the municipality, stating that most of the churches have not been registered and the assembly would soon clamp down on such churches. He, however, advised churches to obtain permits from the assembly before putting up church buildings, adding that regulating their activities periodically with the assembly would avert the companies about their activities. �Easter is at the corner, please make sure that you reduce your sound levels to minimize complaints from the residents� he said. Rev. Joseph Asumadu, District Pastor of the Church of Pentecost, responding to the directive, pleaded with the assembly to be patient with the churches and appealed to them to organize regular education for churches within the municipality on laws regarding noise making.