Friends of deceased captured eating banku on his coffin
A viral video showing a group of friends at Apam Atajowa in the Central Region, eating banku and okro soup on the coffin of their deceased friend has sparked widespread criticism on social media.
The footage, which was widely circulated on X and sighted by GhanaWeb on June 28, 2026, has drawn condemnation from many users, with some questioning why the deceased's family permitted what they described as an insensitive act during the funeral.
According to a narration accompanying the video, the gesture was intended as a tribute to the deceased, identified as Samuel Quansah.
"Samuel Quansah was a nice person, but it took people who were close to him to appreciate his kindness. Only a few people knew him deeply. It took his close companions to testify to his personality," the narrator said.
The video shows about seven friends gathered around the coffin, eating banku and okro soup served on top of it.
At one point, a woman is heard asking for the kente cloth covering the coffin to be removed before it is pulled away.
The video has since generated mixed reactions online, with many users expressing shock and disapproval.
"Nkurasisem sei, what's even this?" one user identified as @BettyQuaye32094 wrote.
Another user, @koruptwan, commented, "This is crazy. I don't see anything right about this."
A third user, @LooseCannox3l, wrote, "Chale, make good friends oo."
Another commenter, @FrankHolma81412, added, "Choose your friends well, or else if you die, this is what your corpse will face."
In recent years, health authorities have cautioned against practices they consider inappropriate or unsafe at funerals, including posing with corpses for photographs and other forms of handling that may compromise public health and dignity.
Friends of the deceased caused a stir in Apam Atajowa in the Central Region after they were seen eating on top of his coffin during his final funeral ceremony while paying their last respects. pic.twitter.com/9NGiwFWK5w
Ghana's Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), together with regulations governing mortuaries and funeral facilities, provides guidelines on the handling of human remains. Unlawful or inappropriate treatment of corpses may attract sanctions under applicable public health and criminal laws.
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