How much does a funeral cost in Ghana? Expenses list and budget
Updated 6 October 2026
Quick answer
A 2018 survey of families in Greater Accra, Central and Ashanti regions found a funeral cost the bereaved family about GH₵15,500 to over GH₵33,500, before donations. Prices have risen a lot since then, so treat that as a floor and get current quotes. The biggest costs are usually the coffin, food and drinks, the mortuary, canopies and chairs, and the tomb.
What the research found
Researchers at KAAF University College surveyed families and funeral service providers in 2018. Their estimate for the main costs to the bereaved family was about GH₵15,500 to over GH₵33,500 per funeral. A funeral company quoted them GH₵4,800 for a basic casket, GH₵6,000 to GH₵10,000 for a moderate one and GH₵24,000 for an expensive one.
Those are 2018 prices. Ghana has had high inflation since, so today's quotes will be noticeably higher. The list below is more useful than any single average: price each line for your own funeral.
Funeral expenses checklist
| Expense | Notes | Quote (GH₵) | Paid (GH₵) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortuary | Charged per day; ask before you start | ||
| Body preparation and lying in state | Embalming, dressing, the bed or room | ||
| Coffin or casket | Basic, moderate or custom | ||
| Church and minister | Service fee, choir, offering | ||
| Canopies and chairs | Per piece, for each day | ||
| Sound system and music | DJ or band | ||
| Food and drinks | Often the single biggest cost | ||
| Funeral cloth | For the immediate family | ||
| Printing | Posters, banners, brochures, receipts | ||
| Announcements | Radio, newspaper | ||
| Photography and video | Including livestream if needed | ||
| Transport | Hearse, buses for the family | ||
| Tomb and cemetery | Plot, digging, tomb, headstone | ||
| Thanksgiving service | Refreshments after church |
How families keep the cost down
- Shorten the mortuary stay: it's charged per day, and weeks add up.
- Hold the funeral on one day, which the researchers recommended, rather than several.
- Serve a simple meal and agree the number of guests with the caterer in advance.
- Share the brochure and programme by link or QR code and print fewer copies.
- Get every quote in writing, and pay deposits only to the business, not to individuals.
Budget against what comes in
Most families pay for the funeral partly from contributions. The risk is committing to spending before the money is in. Track contributions daily and compare them with the budget before each deposit.
Memora shows the contributions total as it grows: MoMo payments confirmed with receipts, cash recorded at the funeral, and a report you can download for the family meeting. Start with how to ask for funeral contributions.
Collect and record funeral contributions with Memora
One contribution link and QR code for everyone. Donors send MoMo and get an SMS receipt once you confirm it, cash at the table goes on the same list, and the report is ready for the family meeting.
Questions people ask
What is the average cost of a funeral in Ghana?
A 2018 study of Greater Accra, Central and Ashanti regions estimated about GH₵15,500 to over GH₵33,500 for the bereaved family. Costs vary widely with the family's status and choices, and prices have risen since.
What is the most expensive part of a funeral in Ghana?
Usually the coffin and the food and drinks, followed by the mortuary, canopies and chairs, and the tomb.
How much does a coffin cost in Ghana?
In 2018 a funeral company quoted GH₵4,800 for a basic casket, GH₵6,000 to GH₵10,000 for a moderate one, and GH₵24,000 for an expensive one. Expect current prices to be higher; ask several makers for quotes.