Archbishop Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, the Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, has expressed concern about the development of extravagant and expensive funerals.
He said: "Funerals have become extremely extravagant and many have decried the development. It is insensitive to the plight of the bereaved families."
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle was officiating at the funeral service of Madam Rebecca Hawa Yakubu, First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, who died in London, UK, in March after a terminal illness.
The funeral held at the forecourt of the State House brought together over hundreds of people from all walks of life including President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle noted that people had to borrow money for the funerals of their beloved and thereafter spent years paying debts.
"These are against traditional norms, religious norms and especially against Christian principles. The days when we visited the bereaved families with food and drinks to help serve guests are gone. These days people go to funerals to eat a lot and drink and get drunk," he noted.
He said Madam Yakubu, a Catholic by faith, was dedicated, especially to the cause of women and children. Her death did not mean an end to life but her life had only changed, he said.
President Kufuor and Vice President Aliu Mahama accompanied by some Ministers filed past the body which was in a casket covered with a white garment and a Holy Bible and a crucifix bearing the symbol of Christ placed on it.
This, the priest explained, was a symbol of a Christian burial for Madam Rebecca Hawa Yakubu.
Madam Yakubu, a native of Pusiga in the Upper East region, was born in Tarkwa in the Western region on March 24, 1948 to Mr Yakubu Awinaba and Hajia Azore.
She attended the Zebilla Middle School, Navrongo Secondary School and Accra Polytechnic where she obtained a certificate in Institutional Management.
She recently obtained a Master's Degree in Leadership and Governance from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in Accra.
Source: GNA
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
Volta Regional Minister lauds Aquaculture for Food and Jobs Programme
41 mins -
GJA calls for release of anti-Galamsey protesters
53 mins -
High Court Justice calls for swift resolution of election disputes
1 hour -
Chief Justice concerned over rising land litigation, exploitation of justice system
1 hour -
Okyenhene ends Divisional Tour at Kwaben, grand durbar set for October 12
1 hour -
Afcon 2025Q: CAF concludes inspection of Accra and Cape Coast Stadia for possible approval
3 hours -
Galamsey destroys over 2,000 hectares of cocoa farms in Ashanti Region
3 hours -
Playback: The Law discussed judiciary and peaceful elections
3 hours -
You lose your land for life if you release it to illegal miners- Okyenhene warns
4 hours -
Robbers kill policeman in Upper Denkyira East, wound 2 officers
4 hours -
StopGalamseyNow: 20 songs that address Ghana’s social problems
5 hours -
Election 2024: Prioritise facts over falsehood – Akufo-Addo to journalists
6 hours -
Floods and landslides kill at least 100 in Nepal
8 hours -
KTB hails media for shaping positive narratives about Kenya as a premier travel destination
9 hours -
We’ve gone back to basics, targeting SMEs, corporate sectors to grow rapidly – Republic Bank MD
10 hours