Ghana's Parliament has Banned Popular Slang Word ''Tweaa'' in the Chamber

Ghana's parliament has
banned a popular slang word
in the chamber after its use
reportedly disrupted
proceedings.

"Tweaa," which expresses
disapproval in Ghana's main
language Akan, was used
repeatedly during parliamentary
debates, leading Speaker
Edward Doe Adjaho to ban it
altogether, the Modern Ghana
news website reported.

But critics say the rule has come
into force just in time to stop
politicians from shouting
"tweaa" at President John
Mahama in his State of the
Nation address next week. The
word seems to have become
popular after a video went viral
of an official angrily saying,
"Who said 'tweaa?'" after being
heckled during a speech outside
a hospital.

The ban has stirred both debate
and mockery. Twitter user
Kaftan Papi says it is ridiculous
that parliament was even
debating a ban: "By any means
available to you... Leave this
country. Now! Your leaders are
sitting in parliament discussing
'Tweaa'."

Columnist Kwasi Gyan
Appenteng says that if the
Speaker is trying to save the
president's image by banning
the word, his best strategy
would be to go on the attack
and get into some "tweaa"
mockery himself.

Source: BBC News