Turns out I can learn a lot more in Cape Coast, Ghana besides how to machete a coconut. (See previous post for explanation, or don't, if you like ambiguity.)
For instance, what's in a name? Get a taxi into town and you'll come across In His Mercy Salon, He Is In Me Entertainment, Jesus Is Lord Nails, The Favor of Jesus Is With Me Phones and It's a Miracle Electrical Store, to name a few. My boss Kirsty texts her dad in Scotland every time she sees a particularly humorous one. To explore the concept "what's in an expression" next, simply turn around in your taxi seat and look at the bumper sticker on the back window or on the backs of other taxis and you'll see "Christ the King," "Medaase" ("thank you" in the local language, Fante), "Shalom," "Philippians 4:13," "Forgive and Forget," "Yes!" "Jesus is my Helper," "Except God" (yes, it's "except," not "accept"), "Through Him," "Please" or my personal favorite, "Why Not?"
Ghanaians also have a peculiar way of naming nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs. Instead of using imagery or word play as American- and European-born NGOs do, Ghanaians name their NGOs with the intention of conveying their specific outreach. Here are a few of the local NGOs I've come across:
- Health and Life Protection Foundation (HALP)
- Rural Women Development & Health Initiative (RUWDHI)
- Foundation for Economic Development & Educational Promotion (FEDEP)
- Health Prevention and Environmental Sanitation (HEPENS)
You tend to see similar themes in the full name of Ghanaian NGOs (health, development, educational, sanitation, etc.). At least the development world speaks fluent Acronym.
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