Gonja traditional council urged to curb expensive funerals

The Gonja Traditional Council has been called upon to institute measures to curb expensive funerals in the area.

Alhaji Hamid Baba Braimah, MP for Salaga, made the call at a special meeting of citizens of the Kpembe Traditional Area at Kpembe, near Salaga. He said funerals in the Gonja area are so expensive that bereaved persons and families are almost impoverished after funerals. Alhaji Braimah regretted that some relations leave their houses and settle at the bereaved homes for more than forty days without contributing anything towards their feeding and other customary rites.

He said food items; animals and monies contributed especially by in-laws, who are compelled to do so must be reviewed. The meeting agreed to address the issue and said that instead of sympathisers supporting bereaved families they rather worsen their plight. The Chief of Kpembe, Kpembe-wura, Alhaji Ibrahim Harruna Kibassibi, gave the assurance that he would bring up the concerns expressed at the next meeting of the traditional council.