Some communities along the Tano River have been asked to stay away from the water body as it is feared poisoned.

According to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in Offinso North, the communities; Techiman, Tanoso, Chira, Duayaw Nkwanta and Bechem are to immediately refrain from drinking from the Tano River till further notice.

District NADMO Coordinator, Mamoa Elijah, in a statement issued on Monday, January 13, 2020, said the order was necessitated by an accident at Tanoso in the Bono East Region, involving an articulated truck carrying car batteries.

The articulated truck was said to be transporting the batteries from Kumasi area in the Ashanti Region to Burkina Faso, when it fell into the Tano River at Techiman-Tanoso.

The accident is said to have occurred directly opposite the Ghana Water Company treatment plant at Techiman-Tanoso

As a result of the accident, the acid in the batteries diluted into the water, culminating in the death of several aquatic mamals including fishes and crocodiles.

This, therefore, makes it harmful for human consumption.