Desist From Fancy Funeral Rites – Archbishop Advises

Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cape Coast, Most Reverend Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle has advised the general public to desist from fancy funeral rites. According to the Archbishop, families who lose their relatives should do well to bury them as early as they can and avoid spending too much on funeral rites to avoid incurring so much cost.

Most Reverend Palmer-Buckle observes that Ghanaians spend too much resources on the dead in organizing final funeral rites when in truth the resources can be used to help family members or projects that can be beneficial.

“I believe we are wasting too much time. We are wasting too much money and we are wasting too much resource on burials and funerals in Ghana. Again, I hope I will be permitted to plead with you our dear President and with our traditional leaders to let us give such good examples for all to follow so that we do not spend undue time and money on funerals and on the dead”, he pleaded.

According to him, it also needless to keep the bodies of the dead for months in the mortuary which comes at a huge cost. He was speaking at the sermon of the final funeral rites of the late J.H Mensah, former Minister of state and founder member of the New Patriotic party (NPP).

“Please, let us all do well to bury our loved ones within one week or two weeks of the dead. Lying interminably in the mortuary in that cold is not very pleasant for any soul that wants to be up, to go to God”, He advised.

He urged Ghanaians to spend the resources we waste on funeral rites to pay for the education of children and provide good health care for our old people in our homes. Additionally he stated that we can use some of the resources to help in the development of the country.

“Let us spend these treasures of time, resources and money on the living, educating our children and our youth in schools, buying medication and healthcare for our old folks in hospitals and in homes, and for the development of our country for the good of posterity”, he said.