Should churches and mosques comply voluntarily?

introduction
Each year, Ga's Traditional Council, in collaboration with bad priests called Wulomei, declares a month-long ban on making noise before the Homowo festival celebration. The prohibition of making noise is rooted in the traditional religion of the Ga people and, therefore, anyone living on its territory is required to comply with the prohibition and refrain from doing so. noise until the lifting of the ban.

Believers of Islamic and Christian religions are also required to adhere to the ban. In this article, we will examine the legality of the ban and see if it is legal. We will also ask ourselves whether mosques and churches should willingly obey a ban imposed by traditional religion.

Prohibition of noise in 2019
This year, the ban on making noise was imposed on May 13, 2019 and is expected to remain in effect until June 13, 2019.

According to the prohibition, mosques and churches are required to ensure that any noise related to worship is limited to places of worship. The prohibition does not only target religious organizations, but it is a general ban on making noise no matter where the noise comes from and no matter who does it. As such, traditional religious worshipers, as well as people of other religions residing on Ga lands, should obey the ban.

Conscious of the fact that there are social deviants or nonconformists in society, the Ga Traditional Council (GC) usually sets up a working group to capture mbad-produced musical instruments and musical instruments. to ensure that authors are left to their own devices. .

What we see in Ghanaian communities in contemporary times is the excessive noise of churches and mosques, as well as street preachers and sellers of musicals. As a result, noise pollution has become a nuisance in most Ghanaian communities and the authorities are apparently defenseless in this situation.

Under section 2 (g) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act 1994 (Act 490), one of EPA's functions is to "formulate directives, procedures or warnings to any other person or body. " in order to control the volume, the intensity and the quality of the noise in the environment "

However, the EPA has practically failed in fulfilling its duty in this regard. Personally, I would like the National House of Chiefs to nationalize even the noise ban so that each city or traditional area of ​​Ghana respects it every year.

Sometimes you enter a church or mosque with only a few members, but loud voice systems are used to send the faithful to very high decibels. Some religious leaders do this for evangelistic purposes so they can also preach to other souls outside the places of worship where the noise is made. But that's wrong. Whenever one goes to highly developed countries where religious practices are still in effect, these noises are not emitted because the laws in force concerning sound pollution are strictly enforced. In Ghana, however, anything related to noise is taken for granted. I am extremely happy every time the CWG declares its ban on making noise. This is because the environment becomes less noisy.

But is it legal for the traditional council to declare the ban?

Yes. Article 11 of Ghana's Supreme Law, the 1992 Constitution, enshrines the sources of law in Ghana and one of the sources of law is the customary law that is wrapped in the customs and traditions of the country. especially when these customs and traditions are not respected. detrimental to society or the general public.

On this constitutional altar, we can say with considerable certainty that it is legally right that the CTG prohibits noise in accordance with its traditional timetable and that people residing on Georgia's land must willingly obey this prohibition and make sure they are. not forced to do it. After all, there must be religious tolerance apart from the fact that the traditional authorities are the guardians of the land on which we live.

God or Allah is known to be peaceful and not disordered, so those who worship him must imitate his nature and therefore must not adopt behaviors that may lead to a useless enigma. It is therefore surprising that some mosques and churches do not respect the prohibition of drums and noise and sometimes have a tendency to confront both traditional authorities and municipal authorities.

In addition, traditional councils in Ghana are created by the 1992 Constitution, as enshrined in Article 270 (1). As such, traditional councils are legally required to take certain measures in accordance with the traditions and customs of the people, and such measures, such as those periodically prohibiting noise, must be respected.

It is therefore recommended that EPA work closely with the CWG to enforce the ban of a given month each year.

The health benefits of the noise ban

Having considered the cultural / religious and legal aspects of the annual ban on drums and the noise made by the Traditional Ga Council (GTC) in preparation for the Homowo celebrations, it is imperative to also consider the benefits of the ban on health.

It has been scientifically established that noise not only causes environmental and psychological damage, but also physical damage. It is obvious that people living in noisy environments suffer more fatigue and psychosomatic disorders. If this is true, then we must make less noise in our places of residence or spend holidays with noise periodically, so that the noise ban generated by the GTC deserves to be supported and that all The country's religious organizations must support and even replicate it throughout the country. .

Conclusion
It is no longer doubtful, at least according to this article, that the annual ban on drums and making noise imposed by the Traditional Council is beneficial to society.

Islamic and Christian leaders must therefore support the ban and encourage their congregations to comply willingly even at home.

It is also advisable for Christians and Muslims not to lower the ban, but rather to internalize it, as it has health benefits for all people, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Now, rhetorically, if the Ga Traditional Council is able to impose an annual noise ban, why can not the EPA, a government agency, do it and make sure it has a national effect?