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Changing gender roles: Meet ‘Papa Tilapia’ the gentleman ‘competing’ with women in fresh fish business

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● Rapheal dress a tilapia

● Rapheal dress a tilapia

While women are being encouraged to take up responsibilities or professions considered the preserve of men, some men also seem to be making a statement by venturing into businesses which ordinarily would have been tagged as a woman’s job.

Examining how men and women are swapping roles, this reporter caught up with a budding male entrepre­neur at Dansoman in Accra who has taken up the sale of fresh tilapia and continues to match women in the business boot-for boot.

JOURNEY

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28-year-old Raphael Nanevi Nanavaiaa hails from Ada Foah in the Greater Accra Region and is known in his business circles as “Papa Tilapia.”

He used to help and run errands for his mother who traded at Darkuman-Kokompe market while he was still a student at Ada Senior High Technical School.

He has been in the business for the past four years

After studying Business and completing in 2019, he and his elder sister had to ca­ter for the family after their mother’s business was razed down by fire.

Rapheal and his sister took up the challenge to revive their mother’s business. After an intensive house-to-house advertisement, he decided to run his business at Dansoman.

The journey in the last four years, according to him, had been rewarding yet rugged as he continued to receive both encouraging and disparaging comments from some members of the public.

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He said some people considered his consistency and dedication to the busi­ness remarkable while others thought he was “wasting his time.”

“A man approached me and told me to use my stature for something better, and that a man like me should not be selling fish. He proposed other businesses which I did not pay attention to.

“Other business owners within the enclave where I operate have tried to sabo­tage me by asking the area taskforce to kick me out, but I have always handled the situ­ation with tact and humility,” he noted.

He maintained that his calm disposition and prompt delivery continued to attract more customers to the busi­ness located at Dansoman-As­oredanho.

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PATRONAGE

Apparently, the idea of selling fish did not sit well with his mother who want­ed him to rather take up a white-colar job. However, he said, some of his relatives have come to terms with what he currently does to earn a living.

● Raphael attending to a customer

According to Papa Tilapia, sales in 2022 and the early part of this year, has been fa­vourable despite the current economic challenges.

“The demand for food commodities continues to increase. Though customers complain of hike in prices, my prices are relatively lower compared with prices else­where.

“I communicate and relate well with my customers so my stand has become the choice for many tilapia lovers in my area.

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In spite of the hurdles, Raphael is hopeful that his hustle would produce greater result in future.

“Drivers and other pedes­trians encourage me to keep up the spirit and I know with determination and sacrifice, it is possible to derive the best out of this business.

“I know my strength is in business and marketing because I am able to convince customers to patronise my service. This skill of mine has earned me a lot,” he added.

Raphael used to sell sim cards before delving into the tilapia business. He admitted that his “aggressive” market­ing strategy sometimes irritat­ed customers but he had to adopt that approach especial­ly when sales were low.

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“I would call any driver or pedestrian to alert them I had fresh stock. I remember an­noying a woman because I had ‘pestered’ her several times on one of my busy days.”

FUTURE

Papa Tilapia looks at becoming a well-establlished entrepreneur and a farmer in the future. He believes that Ghana has arable lands when utilised judiciously, can help reduce unemployment.

He said with the needed support, he would expand the business and employ people to deliver fresh tilapia to clients at restaurants, offices and hotels.

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He advised the youth not to wait for favours but strive harder for their needs, adding that it was important for them to first discover their potentials.

“If you are waiting for someone to give you money, that person is also waiting for gift from someone. If we push harder, others would help,” he said.

By Yunusah Essandoh

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Justin Kodua Frimpong files nomination to seek re-election as NPP General Secretary

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General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.

He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.

Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.

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“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.

He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.

“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.

His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.

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The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.

The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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UGMC disputes Michael Blackson’s claims over late mother’s treatment

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The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.

In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.

The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.

According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.

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UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.

The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.

It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.

UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.

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The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.

The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.

Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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