Ghana’s former Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, has sparked debate with his comments on health and diet.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr Nitiwul advised citizens to be mindful of their food intake, warning that a protruding stomach could be a sign of ill health due to fat accumulation.
“If you have a protruding stomach, you’re sick because of accumulation of fat. And so, you need to look at the food you eat and pay attention to your health,” he said.
However, Mr Nitiwul later clarified that his comments did not imply that all overweight individuals are sick.
The MP’s remarks triggered laughter in Parliament, with fellow MP Bernard Ahiafor jokingly referring to it as “Nitiwul theory”.
The debate was part of a discussion on the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2025, which aims to promote sustainable exploitation of Ghana’s fisheries resources and avoid a “yellow card” penalty imposed by the European Union.
