Nii Adjetey Agbo II, the Acting President of the Tema Traditional Council and Mankralo of Tema, has announced plans to ban expensive funerals in the area.
Speaking to the media during the 2025 Homowo celebrations, Nii Agbo explained that the move aims to safeguard the future of children by encouraging parents to redirect financial resources towards their care and education.
“We are going to ban the buying of funeral clothes in Tema and the expensive funeral celebrations. We want our brothers in neighboring communities such as La, Nungua, Teshie, and Osu to do the same to make funerals solemn and simple,” he said.
He noted that funerals, which traditionally mark the solemn passage of the deceased to their final resting place, have in recent times become costly events. Bereaved families often spend heavily on funeral cloths and burial parties, sometimes lasting late into the night.
Instead of spending large sums on such celebrations, the Mankralo urged that these funds be used to care for the surviving children to secure their future and that of the community.
He lamented that many parents neglect their responsibilities, resulting in increased child delinquency and youth involvement in social vices, including opioid and illicit drug abuse.
“If every home had CCTV cameras, the activities of some youths at night would be shocking,” he added.
The Council has engaged religious organisations and the Municipal Chief Executive to address the issue. Measures will be put in place to apprehend those involved in these acts and educate parents to take greater control and responsibility.
Source: GNA
