Operating churches without EPA permit is an offence, says EPA

Hope Smith Lomotey, the acting Volta Regional director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned Churches of their gullibility of the law for non-compliance with its regulations.

He said operating without an EPA permit, which is enforced by the EPA Act 1994 (Act 490), constitutes an offence punishable by fines and outright stoppage of operation.

He, therefore, entreated churches to obtain permits before undertaking any such projects to avoid the consequences of negligence. Lomotey said, “permits grant you the right to operate within acceptable regulations.”

He stated that those whose premises existed before the promulgation of the EPA law should report to regularise their inclusion to avoid enforcement notices.

Lomotey made these statements in an interaction with church stakeholders including members of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches (GPCC), the Christian Council, the National Clergy Association of Ghana, and the National Association of Charismatic Churches, to dialogue on pertinent issues on noise pollution and authorisation matters.

He said the EPA, which is the lead organisation in the management of the environment in the country, has observed that many church buildings are wrongly sited and have become reservoirs for noise pollution, especially at night.

He said noise of high decibels over a period of eight hours for six months is a public health issue He warned that those who work around the noise must seek medical attention.

He stated that noise nuisance is any loud, unnecessary or unusual sound or any sound whatsoever which either annoyed, disturbed, injured, endangered, or distracted from the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of any person.

Lomotey said apart from noise induced hearing losses, loud noise exposure can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, miscarriage, impaired cognitive functions, stress and may affect the circadian rhythm (sleep cycles).

According to some World Health Organization (WHO) findings, noise is the second largest environmental cause of health problems, just after the impact of air pollution (particulate matter).

The EPA director said the permissible ambient noise as set by the agecy for residential areas is pegged not above 55 decibels during the day (6am-10pm) and 48 decibels at night (10pm-6am).

He therefore advised pastors and would-be pastors that church building projects should be well-planned to embody all the requirements including noise protection.

Apostle Dr Dela Quampah, the vice chairman of the GPCC, said ignorance of the law is no excuse. He was elated that the EPA had reached out to the church to solicit input and fashion out a feasible working relation for their common good.

He said the church must submit to authority as scriptures have said and give honour to whom honour is owed, pay taxes to whom taxes are owed and remember to comply with EPA regulations.

Quampah, who doubles as the area head of the Church of Pentecost urged the church to maintain its political neutrality and avoid sowing seeds of discord among congregants.

He said a fruitful partnership with the EPA, the government’s accredited agent with the mandate to protect the environment, cannot be seen as antagonistic but together, “we can reach agreements towards building a just society.”

The vice chairman said the emerging phenomenon of installing public address systems on the rooftops of churches must cease, as this will reduce the noise pollution menace.

The stakeholders appealed to the EPA to put a human face to the 18-month renewable deadline period and reduce its charges for defaulting members, so as not to prevent most churches from operating.