A group called Concerned Ghanaians for Local Products, has asked the Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah to retract and apologise for saying that Kalyppo fruit drink is not good for the health of Ghanaian adults.
According to Mr Debrah, adults who drink Kalyppo risk being struck down with a disease called ‘Kalyppolitis’ – a subtle swipe at the #Kalyselfie social media blitz that started after some members of the NDC posted a picture of opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo sipping a pack of the fruit juice in an attempt to mock him.
Speaking to supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Debrah said the drink contains a lot of sugar that is detrimental to the health of adults.
“The adults here, I am pleading with you to avoid taking Kalyppo because the sugar content is harmful to your health,” he told the supporters in the Twi language.
But a statement co-signed by Ernest Ampadu and Aresa Ansah Patrick, Secretary and Deputy Secretary, respectively of Concerned Ghanaians for Local Products said : “This comment from the honourable man does not only come to us as a shock but also very disturbing considering the number of years some of us have been drinking Kalyppo. We are of the view that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety of its citizens, so, if the Chief of Staff knows that Kalyppo is not good for our health, why won’t he advise his government to take action? Since when did he realise this? Why would he wait till now?”
“Is he aware that Kalyppo has been approved by FDA, which was established under the laws of Ghana? Or Mr Debrah does not have trust in the FDA? When did the Chief of Staff become a nutritionist?
“The government has always been preaching about patronising Made-in-Ghana goods but we believe comments like this are not healthy since it can reduce sales of Kalyppo and could result in the collapse of the company. Let’s not preach virtue and practise vice. If we really mean well for our local companies to grow, we should desist from comments like this that have no scientific evidence. We hold a strong conviction that comments like this seek to campaign faintly against Kalyppo juice and so humbly plead with him to either apologise and retract or prove his claim with scientific evidence to prevent other adults from drinking Kalyppo. Failure to do this, we may be forced to sue him to defend his claim in court.”
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
