Upper East: Fear grips nine Kusaug communities over mysterious fish deaths in dams

Residents of nine communities in Kusaug in the Upper East Region are living in fear following the mysterious death of fish in their dams, which serve as vital sources of water and food.

The affected communities include Bugri in the Tempane District, Kpalwega in the Bawku Municipality, and Nafkoliga and Binduri in the Binduri District, alongside five other surrounding communities.

The dams provide water for livestock, support farming activities and supply fish for household consumption. However, the discovery of dead fish floating on the water and washing ashore has raised concerns about the safety of the water and its possible health implications.

In Bugri, Assemblywoman Deborah Alalbilla has expressed shock over the incident and called for urgent government intervention through the Fisheries Authority.

She has also warned residents against eating or handling the dead fish over fears that they could pose health risks.

A similar situation has been reported in Nafkoliga, where a dam constructed in the 1950s and relied on by generations of residents is now littered with dead fish.

Retired educationist and resident Peter Aduala told ModernGhana News that the unexplained deaths had left residents anxious.

"We are living in fear because we don't know what has happened, and the fish keep dying," he said.

The concerns have been heightened by reports that some residents have already consumed the fish, while livestock have also reportedly drunk water from the affected dams.

A resident, Anembo Akanzunga, said those who had eaten the fish or had animals that drank the water were now worried about the possible consequences.

Salifu Adisama, who said he had eaten the fish with his family, appealed to the government to intervene urgently.

"True true, I consumed the fish with my family. My appeal now is for government to come to our aid and urgently save us before there is any health implication," he appealed.

Meanwhile, the Binduri District Agriculture Officer, Abugri Razak Abangiba, has visited the affected communities and urged residents to remain calm while awaiting the outcome of tests.

He advised fishermen to suspend fishing activities and called on residents to refrain from bathing in the dams. He also urged them to prevent their animals from drinking the water until the test results are available.

The cause of the fish deaths remains unclear, leaving residents awaiting scientific findings to determine what has affected the dams and whether the water is safe for human and animal use.