Engineer of water resources, Sampson Tettey says no Ghanaian should consume contaminated water due to its severe health risks.

According to him, contaminated water can contain harmful substances, such as cyanide, which pose fatal health risks, including death.

His comment comes after many water bodies like the Pra, Ankobra, and Tano rivers have been polluted due to high levels of mercury and cyanide from galamsey activities.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, he said, “When you take in cyanide, it’s suicidal. Its death. Most of these communities do not even know."

"People litter boreholes around thinking it the surface water which is polluted and the underground water is not. When you look at the hydrologic cycle, these are connected," he added on September 16.

• Read also: The Galamsey menace in Ghana: Urgent Call for NADMO to act now

Mr Tettey stated that the hydrologic cycle links surface water and groundwater.

He explained that pollutants from surface water can infiltrate underground aquifers, and vice versa, creating a dangerous cycle of contamination.

“The surface water gets into the underground water and the underground water comes into the surface water depending on the time of the season. We are not safe. The health risk are enormous. We are going to have issues with liver, cancer and they are on the increase.”

“It calls for an immediate action. No Ghanaian should be drinking contaminated water. It is the responsibility of the government and all of us to ensure that these things are stopped and be given potable sources of water,” he said.