When you first arrive in Ghana you cannot help but notice all the banners, t-shirts, and memorial billboards for people who have passed.

Then when I moved further north to the Ashanti region and into town life, I noticed how many funerals there were so I thought I’d do a little research.

Ghanaians View of Death, and the Afterlife

Ghanaians hold village ancestors and the dead in high regard and believe they hang around to protect their loved ones.  

Like here in the UK funerals are an important part of paying respect to the departed, but unlike here, each funeral can take weeks to plan and complete.

Ghanaian's underlying views of death and the afterlife vary based on which religion they follow.

In Ghana today, about 72% are Christians, 17.6% Muslims leaving 5.2% of Ghanaians who identify as indigenous African religion, but traditional African religious practices play a huge role in most funeral ceremonies.

Ghanaian Funeral Traditions

Funeral services usually take place in several stages over a week or even more. with the main festivities taking place on saturday mornings, after the burial, and they can often last all day.

Ashanti funerals

In Ashanti culture, an individual's death and funeral are significant for the whole community.

The family plays a real "hands-on role" in preparing the body, both before and after death. 

The main funeral festivities begin after burial, with family, friends, and acquaintances all attending to celebrate and commemorate the passing of the person’s soul to Okra, (the ancestral world.) 

Once in Okra, the soul becomes a protective spirit, and it is therefore highly venerated. 

Traditional greetings take place upon arrival, after which dancing begins. 

Popular songs

Traditional music plays an essential role. 

Talking drums not only provide musical entertainment and expression; they also tell stories with actual “words.” Drummed rhythms can tell ancient stories about death and the journey to the afterlife. 

Funeral colours

For a Ghanaian funeral, members of the community wear formal clothing in black and white. The black-and-white dress code symbolises giving thanks to God and an end to the initial mourning period. 

In Ashanti culture you’ll be able to recognise the immediate family of the deceased; they will be the ones wearing red and black attire. Chieftains wear traditional garb and sit under elaborate umbrellas to observe the festivities. 

The sons of the deceased often wear net caps decorated with miniature ladders, and red peppers and eggshells. These items symbolise the seriousness of the occasion (red pepper) and the wearers’ feelings of grief and helplessness (eggshells). 

Because Ghanaian funerals happen on Saturdays, there are often multiple funerals each week in most towns. 

Ghanaians also observe other days of mourning, which take place on death anniversaries.

The main one of these days is a week after the person’s death. 

For at least one week following a death, the family will store and prepare the body for burial.

When a week has passed, the family will observe the day and celebrate the life of the deceased, the one-week celebration is not as elaborate as the funeral, which takes place weeks later. 

Ghanaian fantasy coffins

Ghanaian casket-makers carve and paint elaborate coffins shaped like items that the deceased loved in life. 

For example, a fisherman might have a carved and painted coffin to look like a man-sized sea creature. In one instance, a cocoa farmer was laid to rest in a coffin made to look like a cocoa pod (thats the one I want please). 

Ghanaian Funeral Etiquette

If you’re invited a Ghanaian funeral, be aware of funeral etiquette. This includes what to wear, what to bring as a gift, and the overall mood of a Ghanaian funeral. 

Dress and kaba styles

Friends and extended family will be expected to wear black and white.

What to bring to the funeral

Like we may open up a gift register for a wedding, many Ghanaian funerals have the same idea with a designated location where you can give donations.

Ghanaian funerals are often quite lavish, elaborate, and expensive; these donations can help the family with their costs. 

A Ghanaian funeral almost always begins with a formal death announcement, which can include a request for donations. If you’re not sure, just ask the family what they would like, flowers, money, or other gifts as a show of your sympathy. 

Mood and offering condolences

The mood of a Ghanaian funeral will be both somber and joyful by turns. You should feel free to offer your condolences, but keep in mind the religious and spiritual beliefs of the family. They may practice Christianity, Islam, an indigenous religion, or something else.

When you offer words of sympathy, make sure they’re in alignment with what the family might want to hear.

Ghanaian Burials and Mourning the Dead

In most Western cultures, families and communities hold a single day of mourning for loved ones who’ve passed; this isn’t the case in Ghanaian culture.

Tradition puts ancestors in a place of reverence within the community, and many Ghanaian families remember their dead several days a year.

Attending a Ghanaian Funeral 

If you’re invited to attend a Ghanaian funeral, the information provided above is an great place to start. 

However, there’s always more to learn about Ghanaian funerals and how they differ from tribe to tribe. If you’re in doubt about what to expect from a Ghanaian funeral, your best bet is to ask the family.

Request a Quote

Fill out the form below with your details and we will get back to you as soon as possible with a personal quote.

* indicates a required field