Dear Church: There’s nothing to interpret on noisemaking

The story in your esteemed newspaper of Tuesday, August 29, 2023 with the headline: “Interpret ban on noisemaking for harmony — GEC to government,” makes interesting reading but is confusing.

It said inter alia that the “Global Evangelical Church (GEC) at its Synod at the weekend had called for the proper and legal interpretations of the annual ban on drumming and noisemaking that is imposed on the people by the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) before the celebration of the “Homowo”.

It said that would not only prevent potential conflicts between the GEC and other religious communities, but also reinforce the principles of religious freedom and peaceful coexistence which underpinned the nation's ethos.

According to the church, the practice sometimes led to conflicting interpretations and inconvenience among different religious communities which could potentially disrupt the nation’s harmony.

Clarity

“By seeking clarity and consensus on this matter, we can work together to ensure that the ban is observed in a manner that respects the rights and practices of all stakeholders,” the church said.

The church is of the strongest view that through open dialogue and collaboration, all parties can arrive at a solution that strikes a balance between preserving cultural heritage and upholding the rights and practices of all religious groups.

 “We respect and honour the rich cultural traditions of our nation, so we believe your leadership and wisdom are instrumental in guiding us toward a resolution that respects the traditions of our past while embracing the diversity of our present,” it said.

In my bewilderment, I have decided to embark on the below journey to satisfy myself as to what exactly the demands of this respected religious body are.

sound

The Cambridge Dictionary describes noise as “unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud, or disruptive to hearing.

Environment noise on the other hand, is defined as “unwanted or harmful outdoor sound created by human activity” such as noise emitted by means of transport, road traffic, rail traffic and industrial and (churches and drinking bar operators- mine)  

Dangers

The dangers inherent in noise, according to health experts, include exposing individuals to hearing loss, the cardiovascular system is also affected as hormones are stressed.

Noise also affects the heartbeat of victims and pregnant women as well as their unborn babies, among other health conditions.

It is a fact that the situation whereby some unidentified youth from some traditional authorities abuse the ban by using brute force to seize drums and musical instruments and damage property of churches that go against the ban is giving way to compromise and dialogue.

It is common knowledge that when the ban was imposed by the Ga Traditional Council to herald the Homowo celebration on May 15, 2023, some peace was brokered with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs which led the charge.

It is sufficient to inform the GEC that there are laws in Ghana under the behest of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate the level of noise in terms of decibels and particularly, in the residential areas but this is ignored by the churches, wayside preachers and drinking bar operators.

In Ghana, the permissible ambient noise set by the Ghana Standards Authority and the EPA for residential areas requires that noise levels should not be above 55 decibels (dB) during the day, and 48 dB at night.

Incidentally, the churches and drinking bar operators are the culprits of noisemaking, particularly in residential areas, with their all-night and weekend services.

Human Rights

It must, therefore, not be lost on the GEC that the churches are the main abusers of human rights with the excessive noise they produce mostly during ungodly hours.

It must be noted also that there are currently many matters pending before the courts regarding noise pollution, while infractions are being committed by the same churches who speak about human rights. 

Refrain

The popular refrain that seems to justify the fragrant human right abuse has always been that God has admonished them (churches) to make a “joyful noise unto the Lord”.

Then I ask: Isn’t it the same Lord who defines what the fruit of the Spirit is, in Gal. 5: 22-23 which says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law?”.

Again the Bible tells us in Isaiah 59:1-3 that “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt.”

So will it be so much a demand if the Ga Traditional Council takes only one of the 12 months to “preserve their cultural heritage and uphold the rights and practices of all religions”?

It is worrying among other things, how some churches place their loud speakers outside the chapels while the worshippers are inside.

One for the road: Habakkuk 2:20 of the Holy Bible states: “But the Lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

The writer is a Sub-Editor
Daily Graphic 
Accra.
0244236816