Man arrested for poisoning river

Sunyani, March 21, GNA - Mr Peter Asante, Assembly Member for Bofookrom in Sunyani Municipality and some residents have arrested one Kwaku Biesia for allegedly poisoning River Bisi in the area. Biesia has been handed over to the police. Chief Superintendent Christian Yehonu, Sunyani Municipal Police Commander told the Ghana News Agency that Biesia and five other residents of Nyanprase village in the Wenchi district, who are on the run, went to fish in the river.

He said Biesia allegedly poured a chemical called Rewreko '2.5 EC' into the river with the intention of killing the fishes and that the Assembly Member got wind of the act and mobilized people to help effect his arrest.

The Commander said five other suspects on seeing the group advancing towards them escaped into the bush, but Biesia who was wielding a locally manufactured pistol on guard was arrested. He said Biesia was brought to the police station together with the gun, a bottle containing chemicals and a dead mud fish, which apparently died of the chemical poisoning.

Chief Superintendent Yehonu said the police had alerted the Environmental Protection Agency to assess the chemical content in the river and if possible to warn people down stream to avoid drinking the water.