There is the need to amend the laws of Ghana to enable prosecutors charge officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with manslaughter for issuing permits to individuals to cite fuel stations and churches at wrong locations, Ben Ephson, Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch, has suggested.

According to him, if these EPA officials become aware that they would be dealt with for their actions, it will ensure that proper environmental impact assessments are done before they issue permits to churches and fuel stations.

His comments follow a recent gun shooting incident involving Ghana’s Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba and a “noisy” church in her neighbourhood.

Gariba admitted to police that she used pepper spray on members of the Spring of Life Assembly Church in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale as well as fired warning shots to deter the worshippers from disturbing her any further with their church service.

Contributing to a discussion on GHOne television on Wednesday, 28 December on noisemaking, Mr Ephson said: “I think we need to deal with those who issue the permit. … We should amend our laws so that those who give permit could be charged with manslaughter, if your actions will lead to loss of life, that way they will think twice.”

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com