How are you do? I am hope you are do fine, just as me and my shordies are all do fine.
Senior, like a week or so ago, I was watching some programme on television, where the Roman Katholiki chief priest of Cape Shore, was been celebrated for squatting on the seat, more than half the distance Ohenma Lizzy squatted on the throne.
Senior, this chief priest did not become a chief priest by mistake. His family was anointed to bring forth a chief priest from inside their family, inside. His family is a family of good natured Ogyakromians.
Senior, first they can dress well, well and when they put on belt, they buckle it perfectly as if it was their family that brought wearing of belt into ewiase. Also, when they buckle their shoes, nothing can un-buckle them. They are the greatest and the best, when it comes to dressing.
Senior, this family are more Roman Katholiki than Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI both, well mixed together. They always openly exhibit such qualities when it comes to Hosanna Sunday. Their women can sow wrapper out of palm leaves and tie round their waist and the men will sow palm branch jackets and wear. Then while brandishing palm branches and trees along the principal foot-paths of Ogyakrom’s capital hamlet, one can hear their beautiful voices singing praises to the Son of David.
Senior, in the case of our Roman Katholiki chief priest of Cape Shore, he used to be the grey sheep in the family. Not the black sheep, because he never chopped bad before, just that he was always always doing things an above-average course-trouble boy will do, instead of learning the Latin lyrics of Holy Mass.
Senior, his pastime was not to play gutter-to-gutter because he will dirty himself; it was not to go plucking coconut from people’s coconut trees because it was against “Thou shall, not steal” andit was not chasing bailaa(mice found residing in fields), because he believed that all animals are also created by God and so they are our siblings, some.
Senior, his pastime and vocation was to play chass-kele and he was such an expert and in fact a GOAT, Greatest Of All Times, when it came to this sport. In the neighbourhood, he was called Chassey. So, his father who wanted an appropriate Christo name for him, decided the Spiritus Sanctohas come out with a name and so named him Chassey.
Senior, many years after he ascended on the seat as a Katholiki chief priest, he also revealed that he was born to be a member of all religions. He could dress like a Ganja man and also sing like one. His favourite song was that Song of Freedom.
Senior, I was told from my sources at the Pope’s palace, that they wanted to transfer him permanently to the Rasta religion, but he defended himself by saying that, that song sung talked about what was done to the prophets as written in the Holy Book. And since he was truly one of the prophets, if they like they should banish him, like they will see something coming upon them from Yahweh’s Kingdom.
Senior, none of the elders had courage to cast the first stone, so they left one by one starting from the youngest.
Senior, the life and status of this chief priest, who can carry and wave palm branches more than any other chief priest, who can buckle his belt and shoes more than even the Long Noses can and who was named after a very popular and famous game, chass-kele, was sanctified the more.
Senior, during the festivities and jubilations of his long squatting period on the seat, I saw our Omanhene, Nana Onsurowuo Owuobia ye Owuo, the Great Leopard, in the midst. And when he was asked to talk some, he started with his signature tune, “Fellow Garians.” I thought he was going to share goodies here, too, but he swerved me. He only needed my attention, which I thought was not fair.
Senior, how could he joke with my how-far at this day and age.
Senior, a certain priest also came to tell us some tooli, about this chief priest who was celebrating the long distance he spent on the seat. He said something which confused my mind. He said the chief priest had a great sense of humour, meaning he had sense, or?
Senior, this reminded of an incident which could have developed intoa planned accident, which took place in the Ogyakrom Tertiary School during the time that Togbui Xornametor, squatted on the stool, by force.
Senior, it was during sports and games when one school girl said something which only the school kids laughed but the bow and arrow professionals did not.
Senior, another girl then said: “They do not have any sense of humour!”
Senior, hell almost broke loose. All the bow and arrow professionals got very angry and started raging, “You say we do not have sense? You say we do not have any sense.”
Senior, only Yahweh, saved the school kids and maintained peace perfect peace on that campus. Even telling you this is making me fear, fear; afraid, afraid.
Criminals, who allegedly invaded Wendy Shay’s concert – ‘Shay Concert’ – and Afrochella festival, have been put before the Accra Circuit Court.
The Shay concert and Afrochella Festival, which happened almost two weeks apart, were invaded by the criminals who allegedly robbed those who attended the programmes off their valuables.
The accused persons are being tried by two separate courts, presided over by Afia Owusua Appiah and Evelyn Asamoah respectively.
Thomas Attiah and three others at large allegedly invaded the Shay concert, while Daniel Atugah, Musah Ibrahim alias Pantang, Ibrahim Mohammed aka Ashiaman, and Lucky Chinedu stormed the Afrochella Festival.
Attiah was arraigned before the court, presided over by Mrs. Asamoah, and pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime, to wit robbery, robbery, and possession of a firearm and ammunition without lawful authority.
Daniel Atugah, Musah Ibrahim alias Pantang, Ibrahim Mohammed aka Ashaimaz, and Lucky Chinedu have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime, robbery, and dishonestly receiving.
The cases are being prosecuted by Chief Inspector Samuel Ahiabor and Chief Inspector Isaac Anquandah.
Shay Concert
At the Circuit Court ’10’, C/Inspector Ahiabor narrated that Attiah and his accomplices whose official names are not known, but go by the nicknames ‘War Neer’, ‘Bullet’, and ‘Assah’, shared a common room at the Konkomba market at Agbogbloshie in Accra.
According to him, on Friday, January 6, 2023, Attiah and his accomplices agreed and planned to attend the ‘SHAY CONCERT’ held at the West Hills Mall car park with the motive to rob people off their possessions during and after the entertainment programme, which took place on January 7 and ran through the early hours of Sunday, January 8.
Therefore, the accused persons, on the day of the event, left their place of abode and armed themselves with a locally manufactured pistol, with one live BB cartridge loaded in the chamber, to enable them carry out their robbery expedition.
Between the hours of 12:00am and 1:30am of Sunday, January 8, the accused and his accomplices moved to the Kasoa tollbooth, which is not far from the event grounds, and started robbing passers-by off their valuables.
Attiah was alleged to have been carrying the weapon and pointing it at their targets, amid issuing threats to the victims to surrender their valuables. A complainant in the case, Richmond Okyere, was one of the victims who fell prey to Attiah and his group.
Richmond was robbed off cash in the sum of GH¢300.00, a Samsung phone valued GH¢500.00, and other valuables. Others who used the stretch of road were also robbed by Attiah and his gang.
Fortunately, a Police Patrol Team surfaced at the scene, and as they stopped to confront the robbers, they (robbers) took to their heels, but Thomas Atiah aka Tom Lee Sparta was caught with the locally manufactured pistol and a BB cartridge.
“The accused indicated in his statement that one Yaaba, who resides at Konkomba market, supplied them with the unauthorised locally manufactured pistol to rob victims and bring the booty at all times to him for rewards,” he stated.
He added that efforts were underway to apprehend the accomplices at large and bring them to book.
Afrochella Festival
His Lordship Samuel Bright Acquah was informed by Chief Inspector Anquandah that the complainant in this case is a Ghanaian, but domiciled in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
He added that the accused persons were Daniel Atugah, an ex-convict and alleged student, Musah Ibrahim aka Pantang, a welder, Ibrahim Mohammed, unemployed, and Lucky Chinedu, a Nigerian and a secondhand mobile phone dealer.
The prosecution said all the accused persons reside at separate locations at Ashaiman.
According to him, during the month of December 2022, a musical festival, dubbed “Afrochella”, was held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra to promote Africas diverse cultures and creativity.
He further stated that the programme attracted patrons from all walks of life, including the complainant who was in the country during the Christmas holidays.
On the night of Wednesday, December 28, 2022, Daniel Atugah, Musah Ibrahim alias Pantang, and Ibrahim Mohammed aka Ashaiman attended the programme ostensibly to rob members of the unsuspecting audience.
They allegedly wore similar black T-shirts to enable them execute their criminal activities with ease, and to evade arrest.
The accused persons strategically positioned themselves around El-Wak looking for unsuspecting victims to prey on.
About 11:30pm, the complainant was seated at the back passenger seat of a black SUV fidgeting with her Iphone X mobile phone valued at GH¢3,000.00, when all of a sudden, Musah Ibrahim skillfully snatched the mobile phone from her and passed it to Ibrahim Mohammed.
The three, after robbing the phone from the complainant, took to their heels to avoid being arrested.
However, Daniel Atugah was subsequently arrested following an alarm raised by the complainant, but Musah and Mohammad escaped from the scene with the mobile phone. The next day, Mohammed sold the mobile phone to Chinedu at Ashaiman traffic lights for GH¢400.00.
Mohammed kept GH¢200.00 to himself, gave Musah GH¢100.00, and saved GH¢100.00 to be given to Daniel as his share.
Interestingly, on January 3, 2023, at about 8:00pm, Daniel escaped from lawful custody when he was being escorted by police personnel from his residence at Ashaiman.
Luckily, two days later, Daniel was recaptured by the police at his hideout in Ashaiman, and led the police to arrest Musah and Mohammad.
Mohammed also led the police to the workplace of Chinedu, and he was arrested.
Daniel, Musah and Mohammad admitted to the police that they acted together to rob the complainant’s mobile phone, while Chinedu confessed receiving the mobile phone from Mohammed.
Police investigations further revealed that Daniel was convicted 10 years with hard labour at the Ashaiman District Court somewhere in August 2022 for the offence of unlawful entry and stealing, and was supposed to serve the sentence at the Ankaful Maximum Security Prison.
After investigations, all the accused persons were charged with the offences and brought before the court.
Executives of the Queen Mothers’ Foundation in a photo with the Comptroller General of Immigration and the Directorates
The President of the Queen Mothers Foundation of Ghana, Nana Ama Serwaa Bonsu, and some Executives have called for collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) for a joint sensitisation project to enlighten young men and women on the current migration trends, in an effort to mitigate the increasing immigration threats in their communities.
Nana Ama Serwaa Bonsu recommended this when the executives of the Foundation paid a courtesy call on the Comptroller General of Immigration.
In a close-door meeting, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi, who received the delegation in the company of the Directorates and some members of management, expressed gratitude to the group for extending their support and good counsel to the leadership of the Service.
Speaking at the meeting, the President, Nana Ama Serwaa Bonsu, was full of praise for the CGI commending him for his dedication and hard work over the years which she described as worth emulating by other Security heads.
She, however, bemoaned the deviant activities engaged in by some foreign nationals in the country which continued to cause friction and unrest in their communities. The Queen Mothers appealed to the CGI to help in investigating and apprehending such culprits living in their communities.
The group also emphasized on the need to educate citizens on the appropriate procedures involved in travelling out of the country and the dangers associated with engaging in illegal migration by many youngsters in recent years.
Nana Kobiwa-Akwa III, an Executive of the Association, on her part, shared her experience travelling to many parts of the world which she said had helped to shape her perspective on the job descriptions of Immigration officers.
My experience as a traveler has helped me appreciate the transformation the GIS has seen in recent years, she added. She was optimistic that the new developments in the Institution under the leadership of Mr. Takyi would continue even after the end of his tenure.
Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi highlighted some of the challenges that the Service is currently facing and assured the Queen mothers that, all the challenges they mentioned had been booked and the Service will take immediate measures to resolve the issues in their communities especially the ones that falls under the mandate of the Service.
He noted that the roles played by Queen Mothers cannot be over-emphasized especially in helping citizens to understand and appreciate the work of the Service in keeping our communities secured and urged the group to help educate their communities on the importance of sharing relevant information with officers when necessary.
He finally assured the Queen Mothers that the Service will continue to work hand in hand with the traditional leaders most especially Queen Mothers as they also have great influence on communities.
The Executives of the Association presented a citation in honour of the Comptroller- General of Immigration for his immense contribution to the growth of the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Identification Authority and the Nation as a whole.
The Queen Mothers Foundation is an establishment that advocates for the empowerment of the marginalized and the underprivileged with emphasis on the sick and needy in society.
It is dedicated to creating programs and advocating for policies that aid particularly the underprivileged.
Authorities in Edo State say two village chiefs have been arrested in connection with the January 7 train attack which resulted in the kidnap of 20 passengers at the Igueben train station.
The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, stated that seven other suspects had also been arrested in connection with the incident, adding that two remaining passengers in captivity had also been rescued by security agents.
The government spokesman disclosed this shortly after the state executive council meeting in Benin on Wednesday.
“The success story in the kidnapping is that five persons and two village chiefs have been arrested in connection with the incident and they are helping with investigations,” Nehikhare said.
When asked to give the names of the village chiefs, he said further details should be sought from the police.
However, the state police spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor could be reached for details as his phone was switched off.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, resolved to observe a minute of silence in honour of a police officer, DSP Michael Adams, who died in an operation to rescue President of the Customary Court, Mrs Precious Aigbonog, from her abductors in Edo State.
The House also urged the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to deploy more Mobile Police personnel in Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State, while urging the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General, Farouk Yahaya, and the IGP to set up a Nigeria Army barracks or a Forward Operating Base and a Police Mobile Force Base, respectively, within the district.
Speaker of Adamawa State House of Assembly, Aminu Iya Abbas
The Speaker of Adamawa State House of Assembly, Aminu Iya Abbas, has asked the Court of Appeal to set aside a judgement of the Federal High Court voiding his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the State’s Central Senatorial election.
The Speaker whose ticket was voided on November 28 last year by the Federal High Court, had early in December instituted an appeal, asking the Yola Division of the Court of Appeal to upturn the trial court’s verdict.
Iya Abbas had prayed the appellate court to allow his appeal, nullify the judgement of the lower court and restore him as the duly elected candidate of the PDP for the central Adamawa district.
He is also asking the appellate court to strike out the originating summons filed before the trial court by the 2nd respondent in the appeal, Ibrahim Mustapha who had instituted the High Court case that nullified his ticket.
DAILY POST recalls that the Speaker’s ticket was invalidated over the participation of Dr Auwal Tukur in the May 2022 senatorial primary of the PDP which Iya Abbas won.
The trial court had ruled that Auwal Tukur incorrectly participated in the exercise, as he did not resign his appointment as the Chairman of Governing Council of the Adamawa State University(ADSU) Mubi.
In his related appeal, Auwal Tukur, through his counsel Eyitayo Jegede, asked the Appeal Court to vacate the orders made by the lower court on the case.
The Court of Appeal presided by Justice Habeeb Abiru, responded during its Thursday sitting by reserving judgement for a date to be communicated to the parties in the case.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, says members of the party who may want an appointment or contract from his government, must win their polling units during the election.
He said this on Wednesday at a town hall meeting he held with stakeholders and members of the party in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The former vice president said if the members want PDP to return to power in May, they must go back to their constituencies and work for the party to win the election.
In Atiku’s entourage to the meeting were the national chairman of PDP, Iyocha Ayu, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke.
Others were Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, former governor of Cross River State, Lyel Imoke, former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, governorship candidate of Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, and the governorship candidate of Lagos State, Jide Adeniran, popularly known as Jandor.
Atiku said: “The fact that you are following the gubernatorial candidate or the senatorial candidate or the House of Representatives candidate or the presidential candidate to campaigns is no qualification that you will get an appointment, it is not a qualification that you will get a contract, whether at the local government level, state or the federal level.
“The only way, as far as I am concerned, if I am president, if you come and say you want a job or you want a contract, I will ask you let me have the result of your polling booth and that is what I am going to direct to everybody, because unless we do that we will not win the elections.”
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday commission the 13 kilometres first phase of the Lagos Blue Rail Line.
The Blue Line is expected to be 27 km long, connecting Okokomaiko to Marina.
The event will take place at the Marina Train Station, Outer Marina area of the state, a letter of invitation sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday said.
“This special event is proposed to invite President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, The Minister of Transportation Mu’azu Sambo and The Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Cui Jianchun,” the letter reads.
“We believe that your presence will give us more encouragement and enthusiasm to complete this event successfully.”
The elevated train network will transit between Marina and Mile-2 axis of the state as part of measures to ease road congestion.
The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said “the rail project would move no less than 250,000 passengers daily, while the entire line when completed would move more than 500,000 passengers.”
The rail has five stations at Mile 2, Suru-Alaba, Orile Iganmu, National Theatre and Marina. The project is being handled by the state’s Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA)
LAMATA initially planned to establish a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, to run from Mile 12 to Lagos Island. However, in 2008, the agency chose to focus on a seven-line network codenamed Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Purple, Brown and Orange lines.
The project was flagged off in 1999 during the administration of the then governor, Bola Tinubu.
The Cedi halted its recent sharp slide against the dollar, trading at 12.01 from 12.28 at last week’s close – still significantly weaker than its year-end level of 8.35 following Ghana’s debt default in December.
The government is hoping its barter trade of gold for oil will ease FX demand by allowing Ghana to use gold to buy oil products instead of its dollar reserves, which in turn should support the Cedi over the medium term. The Cedi remains under sustained pressure given flight from Ghana’s bond market as the country seeks to restructure its debt as part of an IMF emergency loan programme.
Yellen tour to substantiate Biden’s ‘all in’ on Africa
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen begins her tour of Senegal, Zambia and South Africa this week, with hopes high on the continent of adding substance to President Joe Biden’s comments last month that the US is “all in on Africa’s future.” Yellen follows Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s tour this month taking in Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin and Egypt. China-Africa bilateral trade at $254bn for 2021 is four times higher than US-Africa trade.
Chinese foreign direct investment in Africa rose to $43bn in 2020. During his visit, Qin faced criticism for opaque terms and onerous collateral demands on Chinese loans, exposing countries to potential ‘debt traps.’ Qin countered that Chinese money has helped improve the lives of African people and called for international cooperation rather than competition.
Yellen is expected to discuss infrastructure investment, debt, and energy and food security, expanding on Biden’s pledge of more than $15 billion in trade and investment deals, and his proposal to include the African Union in the G20 group of major economies.
Biden is scheduled to travel to Africa later this year, along with Vice President Kamala Harris. The visits could mark 2023 as the year US engagement in Africa moves beyond assistance to a more equal partnership for trade and investment.
Stabilised Naira trending lower ahead of election
Naira
The Naira held relatively stable against the dollar, trading at 751 from 749 at last week’s close. Nigeria regained its position as Africa’s top oil producer after pumping just over 1.2 million barrels per day in December. The increase in production follows efforts by Nigeria to beef up security surveillance for its oil infrastructure to reduce theft.
Following the introduction of new Naira notes last year, the volume of currency in circulation fell to NGN3.16tr in November from NGN3.29tr in October. That is limiting the amount of cash available for potential vote buying as February’s presidential election approaches. As demand continues to build going into the year, we expect further but gradual depreciation of the naira.
Energy crisis piles pressure on Rand
Rand
The Rand weakened against the dollar, trading at 17.11 from 16.81 at last week’s close as South Africa’s energy crisis deepens. President Cyril Ramaphosa cancelled a scheduled trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos as rolling blackouts worsen and state utility company Eskom—responsible for 90% of South Africa’s power—struggles to find a solution. The government this week said it is planning a new law to accelerate the development of private power plants to increase generating capacity.
The country has suffered blackouts every day this year after a record 205 days of load shedding in 2022. South Africans have been without power for up to 12 hours a day over the past week as Eskom scrambles to save the country’s electricity grid from collapse. Against this backdrop, we expect the Rand to continue weakening over the near term.
Devalued Egypt Pound finds 30 level ground amid FX inflows
Egypt
The Pound weakened against the dollar, trading at 29.69 from 28.56 at last week’s close –though the currency has shown signs of stabilising at the current level, which is above the record low of 31.40.
Egypt’s central bank said that allowing the Pound to float more freely combined with its latest devaluation has supported greater FX inflows, which have totalled more than $925m since last week. Daily FX trading activity has surged to more than 20 times the daily average seen in recent weeks.
Fitch Ratings said Egyptian banks’ capital ratios can withstand further depreciation of the Pound, with private sector banks better positioned than their state-owned counterparts due to their greater capital generating capabilities. In the absence of further macro shocks, we expect the Pound to continue trading around the 30 level in the short term.
Kenyans hoard dollars as Shilling hits new low
Kenya
The Shilling hit a fresh record low against the dollar, sliding to 124.00/124.20 from 123.75/123.95 at last week’s close. The weakening trend, which is making Kenya’s external debt payments more expensive, continues amid rising import costs. Wealthy Kenyans have been buying dollars as a hedge against the depreciating Shilling and are now sitting on a record KES922bn-worth, putting further pressure on the local currency.
The country’s FX reserves remain adequate at $7.4bn, enough for 4.15 months of import cover. We expect the Shilling to continue depreciating as rising inflation pushes up the cost of living in a country that is dependent on imports, including fuel, machinery, medicine, food and clothing.
Lower tourism prospects weigh on Ugandan Shilling
Uganda
The Shilling weakened marginally against the dollar, trading at 3670 from 3662 at last week’s close. The IMF this week said its executive board has approved the release of about $240m in funding for Uganda as part of its 36-month extended credit facility that has been in place since June 2021.
The country’s finance ministry is projecting growth of 6% in the 2023/24 financial year, supported by increased oil sector activity, regional trade growth and a rebound in agricultural output. The government said it expects to borrow around $2.6bn for the coming fiscal year. Uganda cancelled a $2.3bn railway project with a Chinese contractor after failing to attract Chinese funding.
It is now seeking investment from Turkey for the project, Bloomberg reported. We expect the Shilling to depreciate over the long term after the government slashed the country’s tourism budget, potentially reducing the amount of FX coming into the country.
Tanzanian Shilling weakens to near four-year dollar low
Tanza
The Shilling slipped to its weakest level against the dollar in almost four years, trading at 2338 from 2336 at last week’s close.
While the decline is marginal, the currency is starting to form a slight weakening trend against the greenback. Tanzania’s central bank sold off a total of $124m from its FX reserves during the first half of the financial year in a bid to cushion the economy against inflation and other costs related to goods imports.
In total, FX reserves had fallen to $4.5bn in November compared to $6.6bn a year earlier. Reserves were supported by Tanzania increasing coal exports to almost $142m from $13m over the same period as Europe sought alternative energy sources amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
While that boost is likely to be short-lived, the country is seeking to attract further investment and trade with the European Union in the year ahead. With that in mind, we expect the Shilling to withstand any significant losses against the dollar in the near term.
At the Serekunda Market, in the Gambia, I noticed this particular fish that had been smoked. I was told it is catfish. I also found that there are several species of catfish harvested from the Gambian waters. Castro et al.(2013)indicate that up to 8 species are found in saltwater while 6 are identified in estuary/freshwater environments. Investigation at beach landing sites positively identified three species: Arius heudelot (Ngunja or smooth head sea catfish), Arius latiscutatus (black kong or rough head sea catfish), and Arius parkii (white kong) (Gabis et al., 2012).
Though I found catfish prevalent, I hardly see them in Ghana and on our menus. How healthy are they? I examine catfish in this recent article.
Nutrition facts
I found that catfish have an enormous nutritional profile. For instance, the US Department of Agriculture explained that a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of fresh catfish provides:
Calories: 105
Fat: 2.9 grams
Protein: 18 grams
Sodium: 50 mg
Vitamin B12: 121% of the Daily Value (DV)
Selenium: 26% of the DV
Phosphorus: 24% of the DV
Thiamine: 15% of the DV
Potassium: 19% of the DV
Cholesterol: 24% of the DV
Omega-3 fatty acids: 237 mg
Omega-6 fatty acids: 337 mg
In addition to being low in calories and sodium, catfish is packed with protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. From the nutritional profile, you will notice that catfish is loaded with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. This tends to benefit the heart. It is loaded with vitamin B12, which is essential for pregnant women and many others.
Omega-3 fatty acids Loaded
Catfish are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. On the other hand, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends eating up to 8 ounces of fish or other seafood each week. This was recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S(2015-2020) because catfish and other seafood can give more omega-3 fatty acids than other foods. Besides, Omega-3 fatty acids are known for supporting brain health.
Two studies (National Institute of Health, 2022; Wysoczański et al. 2016) held the view that omega-3 fatty acids could treat neurological and mental conditions, such as memory loss, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression.
More studies (Costantini et al. 2017; Jain et al. 2015; Mori, T, 2017; Jeromson et al. 2015) also found that omega-3s support skeletal muscle strength, heart health, and even the gut microbiome — the collection of healthy bacteria in your gut.
Wan et al. (2017) review of 23 studies in more than 1 million people linked fish consumption with a reduced death risk— and a 7% decrease in death rate for every 200 mg of omega-3s consumed daily. This is so interesting!
Additionally, the body does not make omega-3s on its own, there is the need to obtain them from the diet. The National Institutes of Health found that one 3.5-ounce (100-gram) catfish gives 237 mg or 15–20% of the Adequate Intake (AI) for adults.
Though catfish gives omega-3s, it is a leaner fish that provides fewer fatty acids than fatty fish like salmon. For instance, The National Institutes of Health further explained that a 3-ounce serving of fatty fish like salmon can produce 1,800 mg of omega-3s compared with a 3-ounce serving of catfish which contains only 200 mg of omega-3s.
Catfish, vitamin B12
The US Department of Agriculture reports that one 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of catfish contains 121% of the Daily Value for vitamin B12, which many people are deficient in. Other fish are high in this vitamin, however, catfish supersedes them.
Also, (Langan and Goodbred, 2017; Chan et al. 2016; Moore et al. 2012; Stabler SP, 2013; Markišić et al. 2017; Mao et al. 2016; Pawlak R, 2015) found that the more vitamin B12 intake, the more the health benefits, such assupport mental health, heart disease, and prevention and treatment of anemia.
Catfish, lean protein
The Institute of Medicine (US) Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium et al.(2011) found that one 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of catfish provides 32–39% of the daily protein needs in only 105 calories.
Juxtapose this with the same amount of serving of salmon, which also provides around half of the daily protein needs but over 230 calories. Catfish is also good for weight loss programs.
Catfish, warnings
The nutrient content in catfish varies depending on the source. Two studies (Oliva-Teles A, 2012; Santerre et al. 2015) found that farm-raised catfish are often fed a high-protein diet that includes grains like soy, corn, and wheat. Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fatty acids, and even probiotics are regularly added to their feed
As compared to catfish raised in the wild that eats foods like algae, aquatic plants, fish eggs, and sometimes other fish. These tend to affect their vitamin and mineral composition.
When you examine the content of catfish from the African perspective, it has been found(Ibhadon et al. 2015) that mature farm-raised fish had the highest levels of amino acids, and fatty acid levels varied. For example, the wild catfish contained more linoleic acid but less eicosanoic acid than the farm-raised fish.
Another second Nigerian scholar, Ukagwu et al.(2017) found a similar breed of African catfish from the wild packed with more protein, fat, fiber, and overall calories than farm-raised catfish.
Finally, in India, Pal et al.(2017) found Indian butter catfish to have higher fat content than farm-raised fish, wild fish contains more contents of abundance minerals apart from iron, which was more farm-raised fish
Another health concern is the content of toxins in fish from the water bodies. Also heavy metal such as mercury is a major concern.
Some studies (Kimáková et al. 2018; Andreoli and Sprovieri, 2017; Kern et al. 2016; Bjørklund et al. 2019) found that heavy metal contents such as mercury affect neurological conditions, especially in children. These include autism and Alzheimer’s disease.
The US FDA(1990-2012) reports found that fish that are larger and live longer than catfish could have the highest levels of mercury. On average, swordfish may harbor as much as 40 times more mercury than catfish. The interesting thing is that catfish have the lowest mercury content compared to other fishes(FDA, 2022).
NB:
Prof. Nyarkotey has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations to justify his write-ups. My articles are for educational purposes and do not serve as Medical advice for Treatment. I aim to educate the public about evidence-based scientific Naturopathic Therapies.
The writer is a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, a Medical Journalist,and a science writer. Currently BL Candidate at the Gambia Law School, Banjul, Gambia. E. mail: professor40naturopathy@gmail.com
When I arrived in the Gambia, I was thinking that I had to concentrate on the reason that brought me.
What was the reason that sent me to Gambia? I am in the Gambia to pursue the Barrister at Law course at the Gambia Law School.
I have decided to mind my business and pursue my legal education. But, as a science writer, it appears my pen wouldn’t allow me.
I notice one interesting thing walking through the principal streets and ghettos of Gambia. I notice that there is this particular tea that is a ritual they drink. I asked a frequent consumer and he told me that it is called Attaya. Attaya is more than just tea, it’s a way of life in the Gambia. Attaya is associated with a Muslim boy’s name meaning ‘Gifts, Presents.’
I asked what attaya contains, and he said green tea. I was a little bit surprised because I feel the way attaya is consumed, the ingredient should be locally produced but that is not the case. Green tea is sourced from China.
In my curiosity as a medical writer, I asked where I could get one to buy. He directed me and I went to buy one. Indeed, the product I got was Black Star which contains Chinese green tea. When I got to my apartment, I quickly took my laptop and started my literature searches. So in this article, I present to you the most sought-after and highly consumed Attaya, known as African green tea in the Gambia.
Attaya: the Motivation
Attaya is a ritual in the ghettos in the Gambia
I asked one man the motivation behind attaya consumption in the Gambia. He said it relieves stress. Another man said it improves their sex drives. This assertion support one report by Ben Turay(2009-2010) that the youths drink attaya to improve sexual desire; to some people, cures Malaria and energizes people, particularly students for burning the midnight candle.
I explored further. I found that attaya consumption goes beyond the Gambia. Other countries such as Sierra Leone and Senegal are also known attaya consumers.
One study by Gegbe et al. (2015) examines the motivation behind attaya consumption in Sierra Leone and found that there is no strong motivational reason for consumers behind attaya consumption. However, the study found that (21%) of the respondents often drink Ataya, (31%) say they drink Ataya every day, (25%) do not drink Ataya every day and ( 21% ) of them say they do drink Ataya weekly. Seventy percent (70%) of the respondents have been motivated by their friends, partners, colleagues workers, or family in drinking attaya while (30%) were not motivated by any of the above in drinking attaya. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of the respondents drink attaya with friends, (10%) with their partners, (23%) with colleagues’ workers, and 0.4% drink Attaya with their family respectively.
Attaya in Ghettos
From Manjai Kunda, Bakau, Kololi, Banjul, Brufut, Fajara, Serekunda, Basse, Bijilo, Kartong, Cape Point, Senegambia, etc, every corner I passed through, Ataya bases have rapidly replaced Ghettos. In the case of Sierra Leone, Ben Turay(2009-2010) reports that over 1,500 ‘Attaya’ bases in the country and 584 registered attaya bases in Freetown, out of the number, 252 are in Eastern, 175 are located in the Central, while 157 in the Western. Each base has over 30 regular members drinking the product. The report further notes that more than 1,500 people take care of families through attaya business which has enhanced Love and Unity across the country.
Attaya & Normal Green Tea
Though attaya is made from green tea. Steven Prihoda(2015) article explained further:“The difference between attaya and normal green tea is in how it is made. A normal green tea takes five minutes; the attaya process can take hours. While some belief attaya to be as caffeinated as coffee, if one were to compare the caffeine content of regular green tea to that of attaya, the difference would be negligible (a simple black tea would be an even better – and faster – choice); and, if caffeine consumption were the desired goal, coffee would remain far more potent than attaya, green tea, or black tea. But while some people in The Gambia do use attaya as their caffeine fix, that’s not the point”.
Attaya, scientific benefits
I wasn’t surprised with the health benefits because attaya is made from green tea which science has proven many times the health benefits.
Green tea comes from the plant Camellia Sinensis. The two main varieties of tea plants are Camellia sinensis, a small-leaf variety native to China, and Camellia sinesis assamica, a large-leaf variety that was first discovered in the Assam district of India. Hundreds of cultivars and hybrid plants have evolved from these two plant varieties over time.
Attaya, Live Longer
Studies have found that some compounds in green tea may help you live longer. For instance, Kuriyama et al.(2006) studied 40,530 Japanese adults over 11 years. Those who drank the most green tea — 5 or more cups per day — were significantly less likely to die during the study period. The study found that:
Death of all causes: 23% lower in women, 12% lower in men
Death from heart disease: 31% lower in women, 22% lower in men
Death from stroke: 42% lower in women, 35% lower in men
A previous study( Suzuki et al.2009) examined over 14,001 older Japanese individuals and found that those who drank the most green tea were 76% less likely to die during the 6-year study period.
This means that there could be something special in longevity in those countries such as Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, etc who drink more unadulterated attaya daily.
Improves Brain function
Drinking attaya improves brain function. For instance, Green tea does more than just keep you alert, it may also help boost brain function.The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known stimulant. Though green tea doesn’t contain as much as coffee, however, it has more to produce a response without causing the nervous effects associated with taking in too much caffeine.
Cancers
A 20-year study by Bah et al.(2013) found that cancer incidence has remained relatively stable over time, in the Gambia. This could be linked to their high attaya consumption. Observation studies review (Ogunleye and Michels, 2009) found that women who drank the most green tea had an approximately 20–30% lower risk of developing breast cancer, one of the most common cancers in women.
On Prostate cancer, Kurahashi et al.(2008) study found that men drinking green tea had a lower risk of advanced prostate cancer.
An old study(Litt et al. 1997; Yuan. J.M, 2013) found that green tea drinkers are less likely to develop several types of cancer, but more high-quality research is needed to confirm these effects
Cardiovascular Disease
Attaya drinking could improve heart health. Other studies in Japan using a green tea extract found that, after 12 weeks, the subjects had reductions in body fat (10%), blood pressure (6.5%), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (2.6%), suggesting a reduced risk of CVD.
Finally, (Kuriyama, S, 2008;Shimazu et al. 2007; Miller et al. 2017) studies acknowledge that those who drink green tea have up to a 31% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes, Weight Loss, fat burning
Several human- and animal-based studies suggested that green tea and its flavonoids have antidiabetic effects (Wu, 2004; Iso, 2006; Wolfram, 2006).
One study ( Nagao et al. 2012) found that green tea drinkers had significant decreases in body fat percentage, body weight, waist circumference, and belly fat, compared with those in the control group.
Attaya, warnings
Gegbe et al. (2015) study found that if attaya is not boiled the right way or excess consumption, or mixed with another product as in the case of Sierra Leone, it can lead to many health implications. Additionally, Poor hygiene at attaya bases has high risks of Cholera and Tuberculosis (TB), although attaya bases enhance Love and Unity across the country.
Also, in Ghana, The ministry for national security has warned the public about brands that are unwholesome for public consumption. So in choosing, opt for quality brands approved by the FDA.
Green tea can cause side effects due to caffeine. These can include anxiety, tremors, irritability, and sleeping problems. This is more likely if you’re sensitive to caffeine or take large doses, Green tea extracts may cause liver problems. Symptoms can include yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, nausea, and stomach pain. The negative effects of green tea extract on the liver may depend on how much green tea extract you consume each day.
Green tea contains small amounts of vitamin K. This means it may decrease how well blood thinner medicines work. Since green tea acts as a mild stimulant, you shouldn’t use it with other stimulants. It may change the effects of other medicines.
Attaya: Market size
According to Market Research.Com, the tea market in Gambia was equal to 18.40 million USD (calculated in retail prices) in 2015. Until 2025, the tea market in the Gambia is forecast to reach 48.18 million USD (in retail prices), thus increasing at a CAGR of 9.01% per annum for the period 2020-2025. This is a decrease, compared to the growth of about 11.46% per year, registered in 2015-2019.
The average consumption per capita in value terms reached 9.61 USD per capita (in retail prices) in 2015. In the next five years, it grew at a CAGR of 8.16% per annum. In the medium term (by 2025), the indicator is forecast to slow down its growth and increase at a CAGR of 5.92% per annum.
Also, Alliedmarketresearch.com found that the tea market size in West Africa was valued at 1.6 billion dollars in 2019, and is projected to reach 2.6 billion dollars by 2027, registering a CAGR of 8.5 % from 2021 to 2027.
Conclusion
There are many benefits to drinking attaya. My only concern is how sugar is added in the Gambia. But without adding sugar, attaya consumption is linked to areas such as Okinawa where studies have proven that medical conditions are rare due to their high green tea consumption.
Green tea is widely consumed worldwide for its health benefits. Many retrospectives and few recent studies attest to that fact. Its effect on cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are well documented in both human and animal studies.
Drinking three to five cups of attaya per day seems to be optimal to reap the most health benefits.Try to choose a higher quality brand of green tea, because some of the lower quality brands can contain excessive amounts of fluoride (Lu et al. 2004). The attaya I bought in the Gambia was sold for only 5 dalasis, about 70pesewas in Ghana. That being said, even if you choose a lower-quality brand, the benefits still outweigh any risk.
One unique thing about attaya is that the small jar takes about 30 minutes to drink. It is not consumed in a rush. Attaya is like a ritual and drink in gatherings; hence, the social bonding and unity among the consumers are enhanced. Attaya is also brewed in a local jar on a charcoal pot to bring the natural feel of the tea. So just in case, you would want to try green tea, then the Gambian version isideal.
NB:
Prof. Nyarkotey has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations to justify his write-ups. My articles are for educational purposes and do not serve as Medical advice for Treatment. I aim to educate the public about evidence-based scientific Naturopathic Therapies.
The writer isa Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, a Medical Journalist,and a science writer. Currently BL Candidate at the Gambia Law School, Banjul, Gambia. E. mail: professor40naturopathy@gmail.com
When I arrived in the Gambia, I was thinking that I had to concentrate on the reason that brought me. 
