Family fined GH¢2K, eggs, goat as hand of corpse lying in state goes missing

A family in the Kwabre East municipality of the Ashanti Region was forced to bury their deceased relative without one hand.

According to Isaac Agyenim Boateng, a correspondent for Rainbow Radio in the region, the person responsible for dressing the deceased, who is known for his chronic alcoholism, completed his work and instructed the family to stay with the corpse.

"The person who dressed the body explained that after he finished laying the corpse in state around 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM, he informed the family that his job was done and they should stay with the corpse.

"The corpse was laid outside the compound under mounted canopies. After he left, the family claimed they heard a noise.

"And upon rushing to the place where he was lying in state, they discovered that his hand from the left wrist had been cut off.

"They searched everywhere, but the hand could not be found, so they reported the incident to the police station and the chief," he reported.

Isaac added that the family's woes did not end there; upon arriving at the cemetery for the burial, they found that the grave they had dug was filled with sand.

This unforeseen obstacle forced them to dig the grave again before they could finally lay their relative to rest.

The incident has sparked grief and controversy, with the family facing additional fines and traditional penalties.

"The chief declared it a taboo and consulted the fetish priest in the town, who imposed a fine of GH¢2,000 on the family for their negligence, which led to the hand of their deceased being chopped off.

"They were required to add eggs and a goat for traditional rites. Moreover, the place where they intended to bury him, upon their arrival at the cemetery, was found filled with sand.

"They had to dig again before he could be buried," he added.

AM/SARA

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