C-ID Online Weekly Magazine

'BRUKINA'

THE AGYENKWA

In a small factory at Mallam Atta, a young woman called Aminatu puts cups of ground millet in a sieve and rolls her hands vigorously over them until the millet forms tiny balls. These tiny balls are the beginning of what would become the most sought-after beverage on the streets of Accra-Burkina.

Made from ancient grain-millet, with its sweet flavour, milk, salt and sugar, Burkina has gone from just being a beverage to food that satisfies the pangs in the stomach of many people.

In Accra, Tema, Koforidua, Kumasi, Akwatia and Tamale, hawkers weave through traffic to satisfy the needs of consumers.

Point of correction, the name is Burkina and not Brukina as you may have heard. Burkina originated from Burkina Faso and its original name is 'Deger.'

The production of Burkina has become a growing business which has indeed come to add to other locally brewed beverages such as 'ice kenkey,' made from maize.

Mr Amadu Suleman has been assisting her mother, Madam Zainabu Suleman, at the Zainab Burkina Enterprise, where a small factory has been set to produce the Burkina.

They have employed 12 young women and men for the production.

The small factory has four different sections: the bottling section, where the mixing of the milk is done and the selling point where people come to buy and a kitchen for the cooking of the milk.

Mr Suleman, who is serving as the supervisor, told this reporter that Burkina has a lifespan of 24 hours if it is not frozen because there is no chemical for preservations, but he explained that it could last for two weeks if it is frozen.

The sale of Burkina is mostly in shops, stalls and on the street. The price ranges from GH¢1 to GH¢5, depending on the sizes and the producer.

It is kept in plastic bowls with ice blocks to keep it at a cool temperature and is best served when chilled.

At the Zainab Burkina Enterprise, Mr Suleman said they sold mainly to shops, stalls, companies and individuals, and added that 'customers are not only from Accra but also from Koforidua, Kumasi, Swedru, Tema and other parts of the country.'

Mr Bello Mohammed Abubakar, who came to buy a large quantity of the product at the Zainab Burkina Enterprise, stated that he came from Akwatia in the Eastern Region.

'I come all the way from Akwatia twice or three times a week to buy the Burkina from Zainab Burkina Enterprise to sell at my hometown,' he said. He said patronage was very high at Akwatia.

Rashidatu, a hawker, says 'I am able to make GH¢15 if I am able to sell 60 bottles a day.'

Rashidatu, who used to work as a head porter, sees the Burkina business as more rewarding.

Nutritional Value

This amazing beverage is made of ground millet and fresh milk. Mmm... do you know how healthy that is?

Millet is more than just an interesting alternative to the more common grains. Our food ranking system qualified it as a good source of some very important nutrients, including copper, manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Although oats have been widely publicized for their heart-protective properties, millet is a grain that should also be included on your list of heart-healthy choices because of its status as a good source of magnesium. Magnesium has been shown in studies to reduce the severity of asthma and to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. Magnesium has also been shown to lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack, especially in people with atherosclerosis or diabetic heart disease.

The phosphorus provided by millet plays a role in the structure of every cell in the body. In addition to its role in forming the mineral matrix of bone, phosphorus is an essential component of numerous other life-critical compounds including adenosine triphosphate or ATP, the molecule that is the energy currency of the body. Phosphorus is an important component of nucleic acids, the building blocks of the genetic code. In addition, the metabolism of lipids (fats) relies on phosphorus, and phosphorus is an essential component of lipid-containing structures such as cell membranes and nervous system structures.

It is estimated that about four million people out of the 14 million people within the age group of 15-64, regarded as active or working population, are without employment.

This is equivalent to about 28 per cent of the total active population (15-64) of Ghana. The proportion of Ghanaians without employment even increases to 47.2 per cent if we consider only paid employment.

This translates into about 6.7 million active Ghanaians who are not in any paid employment. The worst affected groups of the Ghanaian job crisis are women, young people, the physically challenged and the elderly.

The Head of Animal Product and Biosafety Department of the FDA, Mr Kofi Essel, told this reporter that they were already engaging some of the producers they had identified in trainings on hygienic operations to ensure that they operated under hygienic conditions.

The initiative by the FDA to support and encourage the operators of the Burkina is good.

Although the FDA has identified some of the producers and engaged them, they should continue identifying more of them and engage them more on the need to maintain hygiene to ensure that consumers are protected.

EXTRA NOTES

I am in love with the fact that this great beverage is a very big opportunity and avenue for the youth of Ghana to begin some great business. Sobolo is good, but charlie Burkina with sobolo is better! What do you think? Please don't forget to leave a comment.