Stories and facts
Burial services in Ghana are deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual beliefs, serving as a vital moment to honour the deceased and bring together family and community. The process often begins with the family notifying relatives and local leaders, followed by the body being taken to a mortuary to allow time for preparations and for mourners to gather.
On the funeral day, the coffin is typically closed between 9 and 10 a.m., with pallbearers carrying it to the burial site. These pallbearers, especially among the Asante and Ga people, perform distinctive and sometimes theatrical movements while carrying the coffin, adding a unique blend of solemnity and celebration to the procession. At the graveside, prayers are offered by pastors and family members before the coffin is lowered into the grave, usually six feet deep.
Following the burial, the main funeral ceremony begins, often in the early afternoon. Mourners traditionally wear black or black and red clothing, with many also donning colourful Kente cloth, which holds cultural significance among the Asante. The funeral grounds become a space for communal gathering, where friends and family exchange condolences, enjoy traditional music, drumming, and dancing, and partake in food and drinks provided by the family.
Donations, both monetary (known as ‘nsawa’ in Akan) and in kind, such as drinks, clothes, or farm animals, are customary and help cover funeral expenses. In return, donors receive food and refreshments as a gesture of appreciation.
The attire and symbols worn by mourners can also carry deep meaning; for example, sons of the deceased may tie their wrists with red cloth, symbolising grief and the seriousness of the occasion. The burial service is often part of a longer sequence of rites that can last several days or even weeks, reflecting the importance of death in Ghanaian society.
Funerals serve not only as a farewell but also as a celebration of life and a means to strengthen community bonds. The use of symbolic elements such as fantasy coffins, custom-made to represent aspects of the deceased’s life or personality, further emphasises the cultural richness of Ghanaian burial traditions.
Burial services in Ghana combine solemn rituals, cultural symbolism, and communal participation to honour the dead, comfort the living, and uphold social and spiritual values within the community.
Explore articles about the tradition of Ghanaian Funerals in the collection below.
