The Chief of Asutuare in the Shai-Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region, Nene Michael Tetteh Abloh, says the lives of his people are in danger following the alleged pollution of the Volta River leading to the death of tonnes of Tilapia.
According to him, the residents depend on the river for cooking and drinking therefore the pollution is a serious health threat to the community.
Speaking to Obonu News at Asutuare, Nene Abloh said the river does not only serve as the domestic needs of the people but also used for irrigation purposes.
According to the Chief, Nene Michael Tetteh Abloh, the alleged pollution of the river, will affect the health of all farm produce been irrigated with water from the river.
He therefore called on the government to as a matter of urgency provide residents with potable water to save them from relying on polluted water.
The pollution of the river, is said to have contributed to the killing of fishes of some fish farmers, along the river, and mostly affected are fish farmers in Asutuare.
He however debunked rumours of the Chinese being the cause of the death of the fishes. He further mentioned that, the Chinese fish farmers are not to be blamed for the killing of fishes along the Volta Lake, as is being speculated.
He added that the waste water from some textile companies and the spillage of the Bagri Dam could be a factor.
Nene Abloh described reports saying imported fingerlings by Chinese fishermen into Ghana as the cause of the fishes destruction are false.
He noted that the fingerlings are not imported but produced in the farms. He stated that the pollution of the river has resulted in the killing of matured fishes, ready for harvesting.
In order to unravel the source of the river pollution, he said the issue has been reported to both the Shai-Osudoku District Assembly and the Environmental Protection Agency for investigations.
He called on the public to remain calm as the appropriate authorities find the root cause of the river pollution.
