How to plan a funeral in Ghana: a step-by-step guide
Updated 6 October 2026
Quick answer
Planning a funeral in Ghana usually goes: register the death and arrange the mortuary, hold the family meeting and one-week observation to set the date, form a funeral committee, set a budget and start collecting contributions, book the venue, church, caterers, canopies and printing, then hold the burial, funeral and thanksgiving service, and finally account to the family for every cedi received and spent.
1. The first days
- Get the medical certificate of cause of death from the doctor or hospital.
- Register the death at the Births and Deaths Registry; you'll need the death certificate and burial permit for the burial.
- Arrange the mortuary. Ask the price per day up front, since the body may be kept for weeks.
- Inform close family, the church and the deceased's employer or associations.
2. The family meeting and one-week observation
The extended family meets, usually led by the family head (abusuapanin among the Akan), to agree the funeral date, where the deceased will be buried and how the costs will be shared. Among the Akan the date is announced at the one-week observation, where mourners also come to greet the family and make donations.
3. Form a funeral committee
Give named people clear jobs. A typical committee has a chairperson, a secretary (announcements, programme, brochure), a treasurer or finance team (all money in and out), and people responsible for the venue, catering, the church service and transport.
The treasurer's job is the one most likely to cause disputes later. Choose someone the whole family trusts, and have two people present whenever cash is counted.
4. Set the budget and start collecting
List every expense and get quotes before you commit: mortuary, coffin, church, canopies and chairs, sound system, food and drinks, cloth, printing, photography and transport. Our funeral cost guide has a full checklist.
Start collecting contributions as soon as the date is set, not at the funeral itself: people need time, and you need money for deposits. See how to ask for funeral contributions for message samples.
5. Book, print and announce
- Book the funeral grounds or venue, the church and the officiating minister.
- Book canopies, chairs, sound, catering and drinks, and agree delivery times in writing.
- Design and print the poster, and the brochure with the biography, tributes and order of service.
- Announce on radio, in WhatsApp groups and with posters.
6. After the funeral: account to the family
Hold a family meeting after the thanksgiving service to present what was received and spent. A clear contribution list and receipts for expenses make this meeting short. Then thank everyone who supported you.
Memora was built for this part: one contribution link and QR code for everyone, MoMo payments confirmed with SMS receipts, cash recorded by your helpers at the table, your brochure shared by link, and a full report ready for the family meeting.
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
How long after death is a funeral held in Ghana?
It varies by family and region. The body is often kept at the mortuary for several weeks while the family plans and gathers funds; one study found an average of about forty days.
Who pays for a funeral in Ghana?
The extended family usually shares the cost, agreed at the family meeting, and much of it is recovered through donations from mourners, churches, colleagues and associations.
What documents do I need to bury someone in Ghana?
A medical certificate of cause of death, then registration at the Births and Deaths Registry for the death certificate and burial permit. Ask the registry or the hospital for the current requirements.
Sources
- Jack, Amoah and Hope (2020), Estimating the Financial Costs of Funeral Celebrations in Ghana, International Journal of Business and Social Research 10(2)
- Ogunnike, Antiri Kodua, Ampong and Gyimah (2024), An Ethnographic Study of the Akan One Week Funeral Observation in Ghana, African Journal of Empirical Research 5(4)