The Minister of Science, Technology, Environment and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, has warned consumers of palm wine to be wary of the possible health risks it poses.

According to him, most tappers use pesticide to process the drink, which is very dangerous to human health.

He said the effect could be dire if the menace is not immediately checked and could lead to all kinds of cancers in the near future.

The Minister of Science, Technology, Environment and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng. Source:GBC
Speaking at the 3rd National Policy Summit in Kumasi last Tuesday, the Minister said some palm wine tappers use the pesticides out of ignorance.

He, therefore, called for an immediate education on the matter so that the tappers will know the ramifications of their actions to consumers.

Prof. Frimpong Boateng also touched on the use of weedicides by some farmers when cultivating crops.

According to him, such a practice is bad because not only does the weedicide destroy the weeds but also the fertility of the soil.

He said the over-reliance on weedicide had triggered the increased use of fertiliser because the nutrients in the soil had been destroyed, therefore calling for a ban.

Prof. Frimpong Boateng further announced that the Ministry is working on producing Ghana's first electronic car soon.

He said there is also some work going on between the Ministry and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to produce the country's brake fluids and other auto products in line with Ghana's industrialisation transformation agenda.

He said Ghana has been left behind in terms of technology because the country’s educational system is not skewed towards science and technology.