Check Noise Pollution

The issue of noise making and noise pollution has gain notoriety in our society over these few years. The phenomenon is more pronounced in our cities without much regard to the effect it has on our health. Experts say, noise pollution, which is often overlooked, poses a bigger threat to our health.

Even though the World Health Organisation (WHO) pegs the safe noise levels for a city at 45 Decibels, while Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency, (2008) Ambiance Noise Level Guidelines on Residential Areas, limits noise levels to 55 decibels during the day or less, and 48 decibels or less at night, many of Churches, Preachers, Beer-Bar operators, event organisers, as well as those institutions permitted to use sirens are flouting these guidelines with impunity.

 

Similarly, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Minister for Environment Science and Technology was taken to the cleaners for suggesting the regulation of the noise level in our mosques and churches. But I believe as a society it is time we tackled the substantive issue of noise pollution in our country.

That human ear can tolerate noise up to 85 decibels, means anything louder and a consistent exposure to such noise level, poses risk of permanent hearing impairment.

Studies show that regular exposure to noise pollution increases blood pressure, stress, hypertension, sleep disturbance, psychological dysfunctions and noise annoyance among people. These diseases no doubt affect the wellbeing of a people, and their productivity in an economy.

I therefore appeal to all stakeholders to tackle noise pollution in our society and ensure sensitisation of the need to lower noise level, as well as ensure stringent compliance to the rules and laws.

Church wages war on Corruption

The Catholic Church in Ghana has taken the fight against corruption to the next level with the signing of a STAR-Ghana grant to shape the hearts, attitudes, and minds of Ghanaians in the fight against corruption.

On the backdrop of Ghana scoring 40 out of 100, in the 2017 Corruption Perception Index, dropping 11 places from the 2016 and ranking 81 out of 181 countries, and within the context of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP), as well as that of the Church’s strive, the project hopes to inculcate the values of honesty and integrity among Ghanaians to eschew corruption.

The project, an Interfaith Shaping Hearts, Attitudes and Minds to End Corruption in Ghana, dubbed I-SHAME Corruption, is a 23-month project starting from April 2018 to February 2020, which aims at shaping the hearts, attitudes and minds of students of Ghanaians shun corruption in the society.

Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Director for Department of Human Development at the NCS, explains that the symbolism of the project is to expand the Church’s work in fighting corruption, which he said would help in shaping the attitudes and contribute to the formation of “a new Ghanaian who would be able to frown on corruption and other social ills”.

Among the faith group in the coalition on the project aside the Catholic Church, includes the Office of the National Chief Imam (ONCI), Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission (AMM), and the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Ghana (FOMWAG).

Mr. Akologo explained that the interfaith coalition will leverage on the cooperation, collaboration and mutual learning and action experience from the 2016 Forum for Action on Inclusion, Transparency and Harmony (FAITH) 2016, with other faith groups.   

He said “Children are more likely to change if they have proper formative at the formative stage” adding that the project will impart knowledge on corruption to the target audience in 20 Schools (two per each region) throughout the country.

As part of the project, the Executive Secretary noted that they would develop a detail manual to guide the project and train coordinators, as well as encourage the formation of integrity clubs with the schools and organise a quarterly intra and interschool quizzes and debate on project.  

Fr. Anondee (Middle) signing the grant document.

Very Rev. Fr. Lazarus Anondee, Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS) in an interview after signing the contract on behalf of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, noted that the fight against corruption was an urgent one which should be everyone’s concern.

He noted that corruption was inimical to the growth of the country, saying the project which aims at imbibing honesty, truthful value in children, will help boost the fight against corruption which the Catholic Bishops’ Conference has had occasion to preach on and even constituted an anti-corruption prayer said daily at Mass.

The Secretary General states that just as the Church seeks to undertake the project in collaboration with other Faith Based Organisations (FBOs), he observes that “it is important we put our acts together in the fight against corruption, as a country, that it yields the needed outcomes and impacts for the survival of our society”.

“There is so much potential in the country, yet corruption is stunting the growth of Ghana” said the Fr. Anondee, who expressed optimism about a fruitful working relation with other FBOs and stakeholders in riding the country of corruption.

Through the project the Church hopes to contribute to the formation of a new Ghanaian whose behaviour and attitude will frown upon corruption.

There was an orientation by the grant partners prior to signing the of the GH ¢ 713,130. They urged implementers of the project to ensure rigorous financial systems, stressing on evidenced based results.

In attendance was Mr. Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).