Accra, Jan. 21, GNA – Stephen Gbedema, owner of Lovers’ Inn, a drinking spot at Darkuman in Accra has been fined GH¢1,800 by the Abeka Sanitation and Motor Court for noise making.
He was convicted on his own plea of operating a drinking bar without the right certificate, non-compliance of notice and disturbing community with musical instruments which carried a fine of GH¢600 each or in default three months imprisonment each.
Ms Linda Kumbonu, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Prosecutor told the Court presided over by Mr Antwi Barimah, that following a complaint lodged at the Metropolitan Public Health Department on September 27, 2012, a team of officers conducted inspection on the premises of the convict and detected that he operated the bar with loud musical instruments.
The Noise Nuisance Control Team led by Dr Simpson Anim Boateng, Director of Public Health Department of AMA, visited the premises in the night and measured the noise level from two distance spots and recorded 80.6 decibel using a sound metre.
The Prosecutor said following persistent calls from the neighbourhood about the continued excessive noise nuisance in the area, the team went back for re-inspection on October 24, 2012 and another measurement was taken and surprisingly the noise level went up to 86.5 decibels.
Ms Kumbonu told the court that the acceptable noise level enshrined in the Environmental Protection Agency for residential areas is 55 decibel during the day and 48 decibel in the night.
She said the convict exceeded the required limits, which could cause cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stress, hearing loss among other health challenges.
Ms Kumbonu said Gbedema was operating his drinking bar without AMA suitability certificate and so a statutory notice was issued to him.
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GNA