The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has threatened to shut down churches in the Volta Region that are functioning illegally and without an authorization from the organization.The agency claims that it only authorized churches to operate in particular regions of towns.Churches must renew their licences on a regular basis, according to Hope Smith Lomotey, the EPA's Volta Regional Director, in order to maintain their operations.

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He said that action was required as a result of a recent spike in the number of unpermitted churches being built in the area, disturbing neighbors with noise and other types of disturbance, particularly at night.The director was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Ho after the agency had ended a series of meetings with about 200 church leaders in the region on issues of building permit and noisemaking.

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Among those engaged were the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), the Christian Council of Ghana, the National Association of Charismatic Churches and the National Clergy Association Ghana (NACAG).RationaleMr Allotey said that the discomfort of prolonged noise was a public health issue, for which reason the agency would not look on unconcerned when churches or other groups carried out such lawless acts with impunity.

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“The same goes for drinking spot operators,” he added.The director said apart from hearing impairment, loud noise could also cause high blood pressure, heart diseases, sleep disorders and stress for people within the neighbourhood.He said the permitted noise level in the day (6a.m.-10p.m.) for residential areas was 55 decibels and 48 decibels during the night.

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AdherenceIn one of the meetings in Ho, the Vice-Chairman of the GPCC, Apostle Dr Dela Quampah, urged churches to respect the laws of the land and adhere to building regulations.He said Christians must be law-abiding at all times and also desist from noisemaking.Apostle Dr Quampah also expressed misgivings over what he described as noisy public address systems on roofs of some church buildings.

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He said such equipment were contributing to noisemaking and must, therefore, be restricted.

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