The Nsukwa River, which turned red on Saturday sending shock waves across the New Juaben Municipality of the Eastern region, was as a result of a chemical, local authorities in the area have clarified.

The Kontihene of Koforidua, Nana Nyantakyi, who visited the river after reports of the colourised river got to his attention, noted that it was caused by someone who was doing 'tie and dye'- a chemical used to colour fabrics.

“I have personally also gone around and realised this is not blood. The Nsukwa River has not turned into blood; it is just colour from somebody doing his tie-and-dye,” he told Accra FM.

“It has nothing to do with the ‘Akwantukesie’ that we are going to celebrate. It has nothing to do with human blood; it has nothing to do with goat blood,” he stressed.He called for police investigations into the matter for the person who polluted the river to be arrested and prosecuted because the “river joins the Densu and this will cause pollution to other river bodies which serve as a source of potable water”.