Proliferation of worship places and compliance with local land use plans and acceptable noise levels in Wa Municipality

Abstract

Environmental pollution has received global attention, particularly regarding noise pollution, but noise generated from worship places remains a concern in urban areas where worship places are on the rise. This raises a question about the compliance of worship places with land use plans and noise levels in urban areas. The study analysed the spatial distribution of worship places to ascertain their compliance with local land use plans and noise levels in the Wa Municipality of Ghana. Locations of worship places were mapped and analysed in the context of two local plans of the study area. Data regarding the planning standards, zoning regulations, and the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved noise range of 45-55 dB, as well as the views of key informants (n = 8) around the worship places were used to support the analysis. The results revealed that the spatial distribution of worship places was dispersed with a Z-score of less than 5%. About 88% of the worship places did not comply with local plans. Some worship places were sited in residential and other land uses, while areas earmarked for worship places were encroached upon by other land uses. Sound levels from the worship places exceeded the EPA permissible noise range of 45-55 decibels. The study concludes that worship places in Wa Municipality do not comply with the prescribed local land use plans and noise levels of the country. The study recommends that the Wa Municipality Assembly and the EPA should regularly embark on monitoring exercises to enforce compliance with local land use plans and acceptable noise levels in the Municipality.