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Traditional rulers urged to abolish expensive funerals

Fri, 27 May 2005 Source: GNA

Abomosu (E/R), May 27, GNA - The chairman of the Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Ernest Oworae Dakwa has appealed to traditional rulers to pass bye-laws prohibiting expensive funerals to check the current fashion of expensive coffins and clothing by deceased relatives.

According to him, the expensive coffins were invariably destroyed soon after the commital prayers for fear of grave looters digging them out.

Rev. Dakwa was closing the 23rd annual conference of the Akyem Abuakwa Catechists Conference at Abomosu in the Atiwa District attended by over 150 Catechists in the 21 districts of the Presbytery.

"What is most regrettable is that, most of the relatives who indulged in the expensive funerals did not pay their children's school fees or discharged other pressing responsibilities or even cared for the deceased when they were sick," Rev.Dakwa stated.

He asked Catechists to lead their congregations to promote personal and environment cleanliness to avoid contracting communicable diseases especially, malaria.

Rev. Darkwa, therefore, urged them to institute annual awards schemes to instil competition among the congregations to reward those who excel in the exercise.

Earlier, the Director of the Market Ministry Unit of the Church, Evangelist Joseph Appiah, had told the participants to support the Unit's efforts at educating the public on the dangers of the HIV/AIDS and the need for them to change their sexual habits to avoid contracting the disease.

He said while the Church was praying hard for a cure to be found for the disease, the Catechists should lead their congregation in the study of the word of God towards instilling material faithfulness, love and peace among the couples.

The Presbytery Chairman, Mr Samuel Aduama Larbi, urged them to work with hard to win more souls for Christ "because you will be judged by the number of souls you win for Christ when he comes back". An amount of 8.2 million cedis was realized in aid of mission work.

Source: GNA