War On Noise Making Churches

THE Ayigya Town Council in Kumasi has declared an all-out war against religious groups and organisations in the electoral area noted for ear-splitting noise making.

The Town Council has sounded a note of caution to these errant institutions that they face legal action and possibly mob attacks by residents who have complained that their peace is constantly disturbed by the day and night with loud prayers and church services.

To signal its determination to curtail the menace, the Council, under the chairmanship of Mamoud Boateng, has met with the leadership of the religious organisations in the area to convey the concerns of residents to them.

During the meeting, Boateng, who is also the assembly member of Ayigya electoral area, made it clear that excessive noise making constitutes violation of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) bye-laws. "As much as you have the liberty to practice your religion, you must also bear in mind that there is a limit to such liberties", he said.

The assemblyman therefore charged them to ensure that as religious leaders they operated in a manner that did not infringe upon the liberties and comfort of others.

He warned that should they fail to operate within the allowable noise making levels and within the confines of the law, some of the aggrieved residents might take the law into their own hands.

"You are free to make noise during your church service but you must make sure that it does not go beyond the venue of the service," Boateng cautioned the religious leaders.

Among the religious institutions that attended the meeting were the Living Waters Ministries, Church of Pentecost, Christ Ambassadors Ministries and Family Chapel International.

The leaders of the religious bodies pledged to review their mode of worship in order not to cause undue inconvenience to residents.