Confusion as family leaves relative’s body in bush after village denied land for burial

A burial at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region turned chaotic over a land dispute, forcing relatives to abandon the deceased’s body in a casket in the bush.

According to reports by Metro TV shared on social media on June 15, 2026, the funeral was marred by the incident that occurred mid-way through the funeral rites of the deceased, following a dispute over land allocation by community leaders.

The deceased had reportedly left the village many years ago in search of better opportunities and eventually became successful.

However, residents claim he rarely returned to the community and was largely absent from village affairs throughout his lifetime.

A man present at the scene lamented in a self-recorded video, stating, “Since God created the world, I have never seen such a thing before,” he fumed.

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“Someone traveled and never returned to his hometown and just look at what has happened to his corpse. They have left it in the bush and all the family members have gone. When you travel, go back to your hometown and see what is happening there. Some of the family are here but we are also leaving him here alone,” he added.

The family members had transported his remains back to his hometown with the intention of giving him a befitting burial.

However, they were met with resistance from some community members and local leaders, who argued that the deceased had abandoned the village and therefore did not deserve to be buried on ancestral land.

The family attempted to negotiate with elders and opinion leaders but discussions failed to produce a resolution.

With funeral arrangements already completed, the refusal left the grieving family with limited options and they abandoned the casket containing the deceased’s body in a bush near the community.

AM/VPO

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