University lecturer worried about emerging trends in funerals

Kumasi, April 2, GNA - Mr Anthony Aidoo, a lecturer at the Centre for Cultural and Africa Studies of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has expressed worry about the emerging trends in funeral celebrations especially among Akans.

He said the situation where funeral celebrations were awarded on contracts and corpses kept in mortuary for several months before burial were leaving huge financial burden on family members.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Kumasi at the weekend, Mr Aidoo said if care were not taken funerals would turn into commercial ventures.

"The trend has relegated culture and tradition to the background." Mr Aidoo appealed to clan and family heads to always collaborate with the children of departed relatives to plan appropriate and befitting burials devoid of extravagance and merry-making.