Police arrests man for poisoning river

Sunyani March 19,-Mr. Peter K. Asante, Assembly Member for Bofookrom in Sunyani Municipality and some residents on Monday arrested one Kwaku Biesia  
for allegedly poisoning  River Bisi in the area.
    Biesia has been handed over to the police who have placed him in custody.
    Chief Superintendent Christian Yehonu, Sunyani Municipal police commander told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that Biesia and five other residents of Nyanprase village in Wenchi district, who are on the run, embarked on a fishing expedition on 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 when the Assembly Member got wind of this he mobilized some people to help effect their arrest.
    The police commander said the five suspects on seeing the group advancing,  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 the chemical and a big dead mud fish apparently killed by the chemical.
    Chief Superintendent Yehonu said the police had alerted Environmental Protection Agency to assess the chemical content in the river and if possible to warn people downstream to avoid drinking the water.
     He said police were investigating the case.

19 March 07