A Deputy Minister of Communications, Edward Ato Sarpong has risen to the defense of the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah regarding the latter’s remarks on the consumption of Kalyppo fruit juice, saying the import of his comments have been misconstrued.

Mr Sarpong said the Chief of Staff made the comment based on doctor’s advice that adults should reduce or completely avoid consuming sugar.

“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.” Mr. Sarpong said in an interview on Ekosii Sen on Asempa FM.

Speaking to supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr. Debrah said: “I am pleading with you that you adults here if you take kalyppo, the sugar content can leave you with some sickness so please don’t take it”, the chief of staff is reported to have said this.

The comments have received several backlash from the public as a group calling itself Concerned Ghanaians For Local Products is demanding an apology to Ghanaians as well as the manufacturers of the drink, lest he’ll be sued.

“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.”

But Mr. Sarpong emphasised that “He (Debrah) was just advising the gathering and someone has twisted the story in a way that we ourselves don’t even understand.”