Gabriel Barima (popularly known as "Tweaa DCE") is a Ghanaian politician and the former District Chief Executive of the Ahafo Ano South District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He is well known for making popular the Akan word "Tweaa",which has subsequently become slang. The "Tweaa" was said at the function which took place at Mankranso Hospital.[1]
He stood once again for the Ahafo Ano South seat on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress but lost to Stephen K. Balado Manu. He polled 16,449 votes representing 40.5% of the total valid votes cast. Balado Manu on the hand polled 17,015 votes representing 41.90% of the total valid votes cast to win the seat for the New Patriotic Party.[4]
Career
Barima is a former member of parliament for the Ahafo Ano South Constituency in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He is also a farmer by profession.[2]
Tweaa,an Akan interjection used to express disapproval or contempt for a statement.[5][6]
The Context of the "Tweaa" Comment
Barima was captured on video expressing anger at the audience,after an unknown individual allegedly said "Tweaa" during his speech,at an end-of-year event at the district directorate. The video went viral on social media leading to coverage by traditional media.[7]
Quote from the video:
"Who made that 'tweaa' sound? Am I your size?...I have been given the platform to talk. You were not given the platform to talk. And so,what you are saying,nobody is listening except mine. "Am I your colleague? Do you think you're my colleague?...You sit somewhere and behave like you're talking to your co-equal. Am I your co-equal? If you're a hospital worker,who are you? Why do you have to behave in that manner? I've ended my speech. I'm not talking again. If you don't respect people ... I'm not talking again. Take your programme."[8][9]
Trends and Public Usage
People began making their own meanings to the phrase other than its original or traditional meaning. A typical example is the spelling of the word in another way as "Tweeaa" to mean Traditional Way of Expressing Anger at Antagonism.
The former president of Ghana,President Mahama has also used the related phrase "Am I your co-equal?" which also featured in the viral video and "Tweaa" itself,whilst delivering the state of nation address in parliament.[6]
The "Tweaa" expression has grown in such popularity that a Ghanaian developer has made an Android Application for it.[10]
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Ghanaian