Pot bellies are the real deal. With the declining numbers of “chop bars” in our country, it seems we’re gradually depriving ourselves of the real Ghanaian identity. A wealthy Ghanaian would never be complete without a pot belly. Simple!

Hello, comrades this opening is directed to all of us. My personal aim is to challenge our new generation who have the notion that it is better to have a flat tummy instead of our Ghanaian identity (pot bellies). Trust me, many of our young people are “over learning” the white man’s culture which is a serious problem. How on earth, can one call himself a rich man, when he lacks this distinct quality (Pot belly)?

In the olden days, one could never be regarded as a rich man if he had no pot belly. This distinct feature, showed your level of wealth and respect. My grandfather, ones told me; during their time, those with pot bellies had the best catch (women). Now, you see one importance of having a pot belly? For those of you, who underestimate the power of pot bellies, note this. A pot bellied man is a man of great reputation. He is a man of great wealth and one who commands respect everywhere he goes. A man can only be qualified into the pot bellyship (my personal term) only if he’s responsible and can consume a great quantity of food at a sitting. A pot bellied man talks with authority and is free to boast about what he has accomplished or yet to. Just to mention a few.

In Ghana, men with pot bellies are likely to receive audiences wherever they go than people with flat tummies. In many organizations, men with big bellies are quickly attended to than the flat ones. Also in other churches, these honourable men (that’s how I like to call them) take the front seats, whiles the “less endowed” struggle for the back row. As for chop bars and other eating places, they only look at the size of your tummy and determine the quantity you’ll need, mindless of how much you’re buying.

The above stanza was stirred by my personal experience, when I visited my favourite food joint recently. On the 14th February, 2011, whiles lovers went on dates. I chose to visit my favourite “waakye” joint in Tema. Being a regular and loyal customer, I hardly join the long queue. But on that particular day, something unusual happened. It seemed the numbers of bachelors in Tema were also hit by the inflation. Entering with my usual favourite shirt, I tried all possible means to attract the attention of “Auntie Muni” (The Waakye seller) but failed. Later, an irregular customer walked right in but was quickly noticed. How? I asked the same question too. He was blessed with a pot belly. That was the secret.

Why pot bellies? Someone may ask. A man with a pot belly is a good man to marry. How? Let me show you how? Men with pot bellies never make their wives food goes waste. They never complain about the quality of the meal but the quantity. Pot bellied men mostly prefer to eat their wives meal instead of going outside to buy. Lastly, men with pot bellies can always be found in the kitchen. A personal research conducted. To be continued… By: William .O. Opare Williamcan1@hotmail.com