Opinion › Feature Article       10.04.2020

Will Big And Expensive Funerals Still Be A Part Of The Post-COVID-19 Era In Ghana?

It appears that there are still some Ghanaians who don't understand that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, life as we used to know it, is over for good. I was horrified to hear a bush-telegraph anecdotal-story, in which an Abusuapanin was heard saying that he wouldn't allow a grieving retired husband to bury his dear wife, when not more than 25 people could attend her burial.

Consequently, the deceased wife's body will have to be kept in the mortuary: till the COVID-19 emergency restrictions are lifted, and he, the almighty family head, can attend the burial too. Incredible. The question is: Are some Ghanaians still not yet aware that big funerals, like all mass social-gatherings of people, are potential hotspots for the spread of contagion? Ebeeii.

Simply put, that arrogant-sod wouldn't allow a grieving husband to bury his wife, at an inconvenient time - when not more than 25 people can attend her burial: so her body has had to be kept in the mortuary, till the COVID-19 emergency restrictions are lifted, and he, the confounded family head, can attend the burial too. Incredible. Talk about living in cloud-cuckoo-land.

It is a classic example of how as a people we are addicted to huge funerals for dead people - many of whose struggles and concerns while alive, elicited neither compassion nor tangible and practical assistance, from their surviving blood relations - who suddenly find champion-Agyemangs to fight for their 'dignity': with big funerals that the extended family clan has no intention of actually funding themselves, but still want to have direct command-and-control-powers over. Amazing.

For their own good, such people had better understand clearly that the post-COVID-19 world, will be one in which the old ways of having big funerals, will not be a part of. Definitely. And some of us modest folk thank God Almighty for that. Hmmmm, Oman Ghana, eyeasem ooooo - asem kesie ebeba debi ankasa. Hmmmm. Yooooo...

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