Gov’t says Debrah’s comments were misconstrued

The Chief of Staff told supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Brong Ahafo Region that adults who drink Kalyppo risked being plagued by a disease called ‘Kalyppolitis’.
Published: 18.04 Mildred Europa TaylorPrinteMail

Edward Ato Sarpong, a Deputy Minister of Communications, has said remarks by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah regarding the consumption of Kalyppo fruit juice have been misconstrued by the Ghanaian media and the public.
The Chief of Staff told supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Brong Ahafo Region that adults who drink Kalyppo risked being plagued by a disease called ‘Kalyppolitis’.
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“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.
His comment comes after a picture of the NPP’s Presidential nominee sipping Kalyppo fruit juice was made public.
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This was meant to possibly mock Nana Akuffo Addo but it interestingly started a social media challenge.
Many have criticised Mr Debrah for his comment, saying patronage of the Kalyppo might be affected as a result.

But the deputy Communications minister insists that the comments were based on doctor’s advice that adults should reduce sugar intake.
“Even doctors have recommended that adults should quit sugar intake and so that was the point the Chief of Staff was making. He only advised that as adults, we should take our doctors’ advice by reducing sugar intake,” he said on Asempa FM.

“He [Debrah] was just advising the gathering and someone has twisted the story in a way that we ourselves don’t even understand,” he added.