Posted on 04/16/2018 10:56:10 AM PDT by Gamecock
Urban Africans contend with a great deal of noise day in and out. In a bid to curb noise pollution, authorities in Ghana want Muslims to use WhatsApp rather than loudspeakers for the call to prayer
Chaotic traffic, speakers blasting music, street vendors and thousands of people going about their business are typical on the streets of most of Africa's big cities.
But in Ghana, mosques and churches are seen to be compounding the problem of excessive noise.
In the capital Accra, authorities are seeking to deal with the racket caused by these places of worship — and mosques in particular.
Mosques are being asked to use mobile text or WhatsApp messages to call the Muslim community to prayer.
Reducing 'noise pollution'
"Why is it that time for prayer cannot be transmitted with text message or WhatsApp? So the imam would send WhatsApp messages to everybody," said environment minister Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.
"I think that will help to reduce the noise. This may be controversial but it's something that we can think about," he told DW.
The government says it is hopeful such a change could contribute to a reduction in excessive noise.
Muslims reject WhatsApp idea
For many Muslims living in the capital, the idea of a mobile call to prayer is more difficult to embrace.
Fadama community mosque imam, Sheik Usan Ahmed, calls Muslims to prayer five times at prescribed times throughout the day. Although he agrees that the level of noise could be reduced, relying on text and WhatsApp messages could also have economic implications, he told DW. "The imam is not paid monthly. Where would he get the money to be doing that? We try to practice what is possible. So the text message or any other message is not a problem. But I don't think it is necessary," Ahmed said.
Other Muslim residents who spoke to DW also rejected the suggestion. "I don't find anything wrong with Muslims waking up at dawn and using the megaphone to call their people to come worship their god, because we have Christian churches who use megaphones as well, and they also preach at dawn," said Nora Nsiah.
Another Accra resident, Kevin Pratt, also dismissed Frimpong-Boateng's suggestion: "Not everyone is on social media, and not everyone is as literate as he is." The Muslim call to prayer is traditionally supposed to reach as far as possible, Habiba Ali added.
The government has signaled it ultimately intends to enforce laws in order to quiet things down in Ghana.
I guess they are trying to climb out of a Shiite Hole.
A very reasonable request.
Expect the Muslims to promptly go ApeSh*t, unless they are presently outnumbered.
HEADS WILL ROLL!
(At least that’s my guess).
Ghana is 17.6% Muslim, which is over the threshold where they start behaving badly.
Muslim Call to Prayer One of the Prettiest Sounds on Earth.No, the prettiest sound on earth would be President Trump annoucing that we've just nuked Mecca.
That’s Ghana make the Shiite hit the fan.
But it’s a good move.
Yes, and stop using real knives to slit throats. Just download the Play Muzzie App.
No wonder all those beautiful white models living in Ghana want to marry me as soon as possible.
Good for Ghana.
In Europe, the left-wing elites fiercely defend the Muslims’ “right” to caterwaul and ululate from loudspeakers.
TURN DOWN FOR WHAT?!?!?!
Didn’t Zuckerborg mention that F*c*book had purchased WhatsApp?
Why has not some expert on brainwashing exposed the reality of this demon spawn religion?
Dearborn, Michigan, take note.
And why do they have to gather on the street ?
Why not just stay where they are?
(rhetorical, I know the answer- they need to show off their asses in the air)
Frequented a local pub with a great back deck this weekend.
The firehouse next door got a call and sounded their deafening siren for about a minute.
My first thought was “does the siren really add anything anymore?”
My buddy is a fire police volunteer, and gets an email, a text, and a radio notification for each call.
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