Peoples & States

Some place names in Ghana are double-barrelled or compounded with the name of the people or traditional state, the latter normally coming first. This may be done for various reasons, such as:

● to avoid ambiguity in speech with another town which otherwise has the same name, e.g. Agona Swedru & Akim Swedru.

● to indicate the presence of a migrant community within a different host region, e.g. Fantekofe in Brong Ahafo.

● to emphasise cultural identity.

THE REGIONAL HOUSES OF CHIEFS

The importance of traditional rulers (e.g. kings, paramount chiefs, divisional chiefs) and customary law to Ghanaian society is reflected in the Constitution (1) which provides for a National House of Chiefs from which regional representatives are elected as members of the Council of State. The Electoral Commission of Ghana (2) sets out the procedure by which members of the National House of Chiefs are elected by the Regional Houses, and stipulates the composition of each Regional House. In the south, traditional areas have 'stools' and in the north, 'skins', referring to the manner in which the ruler is seated when in official capacity. In the case of the smaller areas, the name may simply be that of the town in which the ruler resides or holds office, e.g. Worawora (VR). For the larger areas, the name may not appear in any of the place names, e.g. Dagomba (NR). To achieve fairness of representation, some of the smaller traditional areas are grouped together, and only one ruler from the group is elected to the appropriate regional house.

In the list below, based on the Electoral Commision document, Chieftancy Instrument 1974, the traditional areas are shown for each regional house, the names of the areas having been substituted as far as possible for the titles of the rulers in the original, so that the relevance to toponyms can more easily be seen. Where the ruler title differs significantly from the area name, the former is stated in square brackets after the latter, e.g. Navrongo [Navropio]. Note that at the time of enactment, the Upper Region was not split, and the Greater Accra Region was part of the Eastern Region.

Ashanti: ASANTE, Mampong, Adansi, Agona, Asokori, Bekwai, Denyase, Ejisu, Essumeja, Juaben, Kokofu, Kumawu, Nsuta, Offinso, Adonten, Akwamu, Akyempim, Bantama

Brong-Ahafo: Abease, Atebubu, Banda, Berekum, Dormaa, Drobo, Mo, Nkoranza, Suma, Techiman, Wenchi, Duayaw/Nkwanta, Yeji, Prang, Dwan, Wiase, 1 of (Nkomi, Basa, Adjadi, Akroso)

Central: Ekumfi, Anyan Abaasa, Ajumako, Asikuma, Esiam, Anyan-Maim, Mankessim, Abeadzi, Kwaman, Abura, Nkusukum, Anomabo, Denkyira, Awutu, Asin Apimanim, Agona Nyakrom, Edina, Effutu, Gomoa Ajumako, Assin (Gomoa), Hemang, Oguaa, Asin Attandasu, Twifu, Komenda, Eguafo, Agona Nsaba, Anyan Denkyira, Abirem, Asebu.

Eastern: Akim Abuakwa, Akim Busume, Akim Kotoku, Akwamu, Akwapim, Kwahu, New Juaben, Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo, Ga, Ningo, Osudoku, Prampram, Shai, Ada, Kpone, Boso, Anum.

Northern: MAMPRUSI, 3 of (Bunkpurugu, Wungu, Janga [Soonaba], Yunyuo, Wulugu (Kpasenkpe)

• DAGOMBA, 7 of (Gushie, Savelugu, Tamale [Gulkpe-Na], ? [Korli-Na], ? [Yelzori-Lana], Kumbungu, Tolon, Demon, Sunson, Nanton, Karaga, Chereponi, Sambu [Mion-Lana])

• GONJA, 3 of (Buipe, Bole, Wasipe, Tulewe, Kpembe, Kusawgu)

• NANUMBA, 2 of (Dakpem, Nakpa, ? [Jup-Na])

• (Mo) 1 of (Babato, Bamboi, Carpenter, Chibrenyor, Jama, Jogboi, Teselima)

Upper: WA, SANDEMA

• (Lawra) Jirapa, Nandom, Lawra, Lambussie

• (Frafra) Bolgatanga, Sekoti, Bongo, Tongo, Nangodi

• Bawku, 7 of (Binaba, Sinebaga, Binduri, Tanga, Buguri, Tempane, Kagbiri? [Gagbirinaba], Teshi, Kugri, Tilli, Kulungugu, Widinaba, Kusanaba, Woricombo, Pusiga, Zebila, Sapelliga, Zongoiri)

• (Kassena-Nankani) 5 of (Navrongo [Navropio], ? [Kotiiupio], Paga, Nankani, Chiana, Mirigu, Kologu, Sirigu, Kayoro, Naga)

• (Issala) 3 of (Walembele [Wellembellikoro], Zini, Gwollu, Pulima, Tumu)

• (Wala) 6 of (Nadawli, Dorimon, Busa, Wonchiau, Perisi, Kojoperi, Sing, Funsi, Issa, Busie, Kaleo, Daffiama, Guli)

• (Builsa) 3 of (Bechaunsi [Bachaunisinab], Siniensi [Seniessinab], Doninga, Chuchiliga, Fumbisi, Wiaga, Gbedema, Wiasi, Kadema, Base, Kanjaga, Godemblissa [Gbemblissanab])

Volta: Buem, Akpini, Anfoega, Vane-Avatime, Ho, Anlo, Peki, Krachi, Likpe, Santrokofi, Tapa, Nkonya, Gbi, Ve

• 1 of (Adele, Ntrubu, Atwode, Nchumuru, Pai, Akroso)

• 1 of (Kadjebi, Asato, Ahamanso, Dodo, Pampawie, Papase, Ampeyo

• 1 of (Worawora, Apesokubi, Bowiri, Akpafu, Lolobi)

• 1 of (Alavanyo, Sovie, Gbefi, Tsome (North), Leklebi, Wli, Liati, Fodome)

• 1 of (Logba, Tafi, Agate, Nyagbo, Have, Woadze)

• 1 of (Aveme, Avate, Wusuta, Vakpo, Botoku, Kpeve, Tsrukpe, Tsohor)

• 1 of (Akome, Kpedze, Hoe, Honuta, Dodome, Klave, Ashanti-Kpoeta, Dzolo, Saviefe)

• 1 of (Hlefi, Kpale, Tsome (South), Akrofu, Anfoeta, Akoviefe, Goviefe, Etodome)

• 1 of (Taviefe, Matse, Lume, Shia, Atikpui, Ave, Ziave)

Awudome

• 1 of (Adaklu, Abutia, Sokode, Klefe, Agotime, Ziofe, Dakpa, Dzalele)

• 1 of (Tokokoe, Hodzo, Akoefe, Tanyigbe, Kpenoe, Takla, Nyive)

• 1 of (Agave, Mafi)

• 1 of (Fiervier, Mepe, Bakpa, Tefle, Sokpoe, Vume)

• 1 of (Battor, Duffor, Volo, Torgome, Fodzoku)

• 1 of (Some, Aflao, Avenor)

• 1 of (Weta, Klikor, Afife)

• 1 of (Ave Afiadenyigba, Dzodze, Hevi, Penyi)

Western: Ahanta, Ajomoro, Aowin, Essikadu, Sekondi, Eastern Nzima, Western Nzima, Gwira, Lower Axim, Upper Axim, Lower Dixcove, Upper Dixcove, Mpohaw, Nsein, Sefwi Anhwiaso, Sefwi Bekwai, Sefwi Wiawso, Wassa Amenfi, Wassa Fiase, Shama, Suaman (Dadieso).

PEOPLES OF GHANA

Given below are links to accounts of the histories, languages, religions and social customs of many of the people groups of Ghana. Though not specifically concerned with toponymy or etymology, these websites may be found useful in understanding the context of many of the source quotations in the toponym records.

Whilst every effort is made to include only reliable websites, Ghana Place Names does not take responsibility for their accuracy or objectivity.

Ada, Ahanta, Akuapem, Akwamu, Avatime, Bimoba, Bulsa, Dagaaba, Dega (Mo), Denkyira, Edina (Elmina), Frafra, Ga, Gonja, Gurunsi, Krobo, Kwawu, Mamprusi, Nzema, Oguaa (Cape Coast), Se (Shai), Sefwi, Sissala, Tallensi

Sources:

1. Constitution of the Republic of Ghana 1992, Art.271