Member of Parliament for Mpraeso and Vice Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Davis Ansah Opoku, has called for reforms in customary funeral practices in Ghana, emphasising the need to grant greater rights to children and widows.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Law on Sunday, March 29, Mr. Ansah Opoku highlighted the financial and social burdens placed on families during funerals.

He noted that under current customary practices, children are often tasked with raising significant sums of money to fund funerals.

“Today, in our customary settings, when there is a funeral, the abusuapanyin (family head) comes and says that the kids should go look for money for the funeral. If the funeral is going to cost a million cedis, it is the responsibility of the children to look for money,” he explained.

However, Mr. Ansah Opoku pointed out that despite this financial responsibility, children are typically excluded from meaningful decision-making in the funeral process.

“But when it comes to decision-making with respect to the funeral, you have no right, and I think that is not proper,” he stated, calling for a more inclusive approach that recognises the contributions of all family members.

The Mpraeso lawmaker also drew attention to the plight of widows, many of whom are subjected to inhumane treatment and required to undergo certain rites before they can participate fully in family and community life.

He stressed that these practices often marginalise widows at a time when they need support and protection.

“Certain rights must be given to the children and the widows,” Mr. Ansah Opoku said.