A palm tree is a useful tree all over the world. Its fruits are very useful and are used as food or for medicinal purposes. The palm tree is unique in Ghana and other West Africa states as it is used to obtain a local beverage called Apketeshie.
A hole is made on the palm tree, and then a pipe is connected from the hole to a container which produces a liquid. This liquid is then boiled and other things added to produce this local beverage called Akpeteshie.
This beverage is so common in Ghana and is very affordable since there are a lot of palm trees in the country. It is used in funerals as part of customs and is mostly sold in small drinking bars dotted across the country. You will be sure to find one of these bars every kilometer as you move in any part of the country. In this article, we will look at the addictions of this beverage, its enslavement and subsequent killings of its victims.
Addictions
The perversity of poverty coupled with its affordability has drawn many customers to this beverage. Many who cannot afford other types of drinks gravitates towards this beverage and that is the genesis of the problem. Most of them due to constant consumption have become so addicted to the beverage that every single day, you will find them in groups sitting around these drinking spots.
It has become so serious that they don’t even want to leave the spot (drinking bar) with the fear that in their absence, someone may pass through to buy some for them.
Adults with families have abandoned their families and responsibilities and always sit at these drinking spots waiting for miracle to get a taste of this savior beverage.
The issues is so serious that some of these addicts who have jobs have abandoned their jobs and always go to sit at these bars expecting to get a taste of it.
The issue of death relating to akpeteshie.
The components of this local beverage are so powerful that addicts have no taste for food again. This makes them lose weight and appear emaciated. Other symptoms of its addicts include the whitening of the mouth: particularly the lips and the mouth appear reddened.
The beverage is so hot that due to constant touch with the lips erodes the outer layer of the lips and it appears red.
A young man of say 20 years who becomes addicted may look like a 90 year old in less than a year. The end result is that they always end up anemic and their veins look too dry to accept transfusion. Many also die out of liver damage among others and men easily lose their potency.
Many families who have the means have tried taking their relatives who are addicted to rehabilitation centers as long as two years, but they always go back to their old ways barely a day after their discharge from these rehabilitating centers.
Why has government not taken steps to regulate?
Many will be wondering why a responsible government not take steps to make laws to regulate this qualm?
Many organization giants have entered into the industry by packaging them in Sachets. These businesses belong to multi-million cartels that support major political parties during elections. This makes it difficult for ruling parties to take action, because any action taken may jeopardize their chances in future elections.
It is the concern of most people in Ghana, that the government will build more rehabilitating center across the country, train more professionals and employ more resources to fight this canker which is killing many young and product population of the country.
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