By Brigadier General (Rtd) Joseph Saidu Kaimapo (Guest Writer)
Across Sierra Leone’s towns and cities, the peace and comfort of many residents are being eroded by a growing culture of public nuisance, particularly the uncontrolled playing of loud music and disruptive street behavior. What was once considered occasional excitement has now become a daily assault on public order.
From Freetown to Makeni, noisy bars, roadside parties, and vehicles equipped with booming speakers fill the air with deafening sound late into the night. Many see this as harmless entertainment, but for the elderly, the medically challenged, students, and ordinary residents, it has become a serious threat to health and wellbeing.
The Hidden Toll on Health and Well-being
Health experts warn that noise pollution is more than an inconvenience. Prolonged loud sound exposure contributes to hearing loss, insomnia, stress disorders, and high blood pressure. Those with chronic heart conditions, hypertension, mental health challenges, or neurological disorders are especially at risk.
A resident in east Freetown explained, “I haven’t had proper sleep in weeks. My mother is hypertensive, and the constant loud music is making her condition worse.”
Students preparing for crucial examinations and workers recovering from long days also suffer silently as uncontrolled noise makes rest and concentration nearly impossible.
A Culture of Noise and Weak Enforcement
Despite existing laws under the Public Order Act and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, enforcement remains weak. Many citizens are unaware that playing loud music at odd hours is a punishable offence, while some establishments enjoy political protection and disregard community complaints.
A local council official in Bo lamented, “We do have noise control laws, but enforcing them is another matter. People see noise complaints as trivial, not realizing the damage being caused.”
Culturally, the normalization of loudness especially during celebrations has entrenched the problem. Weddings, parties, and even funerals often feature massive sound systems operating with little regard for surrounding residents.
Lessons from Abroad: How Other Countries Control Noise
Many countries across the world have strict enforcement mechanisms against noise pollution a sharp contrast to the situation in Sierra Leone.
During my service with the United Nations in Nepal, I lived there for over a year. Throughout my stay, I never once heard a megaphone in the market, despite visiting the area almost daily. Even their nightclubs, which I attended occasionally, operate with remarkable discipline. These clubs use soundproofing, yet at exactly 10:00 p.m., the music volume is lowered to the bare minimum.
When I asked why, the response was simple and firm:
“It is government policy. If we violate it, the neighborhood reports us to the police, and the club will be shut down permanently.”
This level of enforcement reflects a society committed to peace, respect, and the wellbeing of its citizens. It also demonstrates that economic activity and nightlife can coexist with public serenity but only when laws are respected and institutions take enforcement seriously.
Beyond Noise: Other Forms of Public Nuisance
Noise is only one aspect of a broader challenge. Other forms of public nuisance have become common, including reckless waste disposal, public drunkenness, blocked sidewalks and roads from street hawking, motorcycle riders blasting horns unnecessarily, and widespread open urination. Combined, these behaviors degrade community life and tarnish the image of urban Sierra Leone.
The Forgotten and the Vulnerable: Medically and physically challenged individuals suffer the most. People with sensory sensitivities, autism, hypertension, or cardiac illness can experience severe distress from excessive noise. For the elderly and those recovering from sickness, the lack of quiet places to rest undermines healing and contributes to declining health.
A community health worker in Kenema noted, “Our society must remember that quietness is part of public health. We cannot ignore the suffering of vulnerable groups.”
A Call for Stronger Action
Experts and community leaders are calling for a firm national approach to control public nuisance including stronger police and local council enforcement, deployment of noise-monitoring devices by the EPA, clear bylaws regulating entertainment hours, public awareness campaigns on the health dangers of noise, community-led reporting of offenders and penalties for establishments that violate noise limits.
Above all, Sierra Leone must cultivate a culture of respect whereby individual enjoyment does not infringe on public peace.
A Matter of Civic Responsibility: Public nuisance, especially noise pollution, is not merely a legal issue; it is a test of our values as a nation. If countries like Nepal can maintain public order through discipline and enforcement, Sierra Leone can too.
Peace, health, and dignity are rights of every resident. Ensuring them requires collective action from government, communities, and individuals alike.