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Ghana’s Parliament ends up in hysterical laughter – over cheeky village names

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Electricity prices are usually a painful topic of discussion (just ask me about my last power bill), but the African country’s government ministers have been left in fits of giggles after one MP began listing villages not connected to the national grid – and the names were unexpectedly racy.

Ghana’s politicians get the giggles

According to MP John Frimpong Osei, one is named ‘Etwe nim Nyansa’, a Twi dialect name which translates to ‘vagina is wise’ while other names included ‘Kote ye Aboa’ – ‘penis is a fool’ – and ‘Shua ye Morbor’ – ‘testicles are sad’.

Not that the ministers were complaining – Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko said it was good for the Parliament to enjoy some “comic relief from time to time.”

“I suspect that providing them with electricity may interfere with the nocturnal activities as suggested by their names,” he joked.

English is the official language, but most Ghanaians speak Twi – however the unusual names still had many scratching their heads.

So where did the rude monikers come from? The BBC’s Thomas Naadi has reported from the capital, Accra, that such names are usually given by the first settlers in those communities and are drawn from the life experiences of those people.

We’re guessing that someone wasn’t entirely happy with their nocturnal activities then.

Still it’s not like we Aussies can talk.

Lauren is a journalist for villages.com.au, agedcare101 and The Donaldson Sisters. Growing up in a big family in small town communities, she has always had a love for the written word, joining her local library at the age of six months. With over eight years' experience in writing and editing, she is a keen follower of news and current affairs with a nose for a good story.


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