Ghanaians are not the only ones bearing the brunt of the pollution illegal mining is causing to water bodies.

According to a former Executive Secretary at the Water Resources Commission, Ben Yaw Amponsah, citizens of Côte d'Ivoire are facing similar problems.

He explained that since two rivers in the country – Tano and Bia Rivers – pass through the neighbouring country, its citizens suffer for a "crime" they have not committed.

Mr Amponsah made this revelation when he spoke on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday.

“In 2017, it was quite clear that our activities with regards to illegal mining were seriously impacting our neighbours because we share the Bia and Tano with them. The data information that we brought up was in sync with what we had in our part of the country.

“So there was no doubt that we were the major causes of it. And we are gradually polluting their drinking water sources, especially for most of their municipalities that rely on the Bia. So just as the effect is impacting us with respect to treating water bodies, it is the same in the Côte d'Ivoire,” he stated.

Reacting to this information, the Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs & Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) said the situation is a security threat.

Prof. Kwesi Aning believed it is just a matter of time for the leaders of Côte d'Ivoire to sound the alarm and sanction Ghana.

“Côte d'Ivoire’s water security cannot be disassociated from the insecurities that are arising from our activities in Ghana. We know that the Ivoirians, in terms of their approach to their economic security are more focused, very calculating and careful.

“So what we are seeing in terms of all Ghanaian Rivers passing through Côte d'Ivoire is that it is only a matter of time before there will be a formal complaint.

"I know, the Ivorian newspapers are picking it up and already the French newspapers are writing about how gold mining in Ghana is threatening the livelihoods of people in Côte d'Ivoire. So yes, we have a potential security threat on our hands,” he said.