THE unilateral decision of AMA Boss, Dr. Alfred OkoVanderpuije, to sell-off a parcel of land at the Awudome Cemetery in Accra cannot go without comment. Whatever the reasons may be, we on Today think that it is unGhanaian for portions of public cemeteries to be sold for commercial purposes.
THE Ghanaian of old might not have gone to the extent of mummifying the dead or putting to death an entire retinue of dead kings for burial like the ancient Egyptians did, but their complicated farewell rituals for the dead was enough to explain how well they cherished the dead. Rich and expensive funerals organised today at the expense of children’s school fees only adds to how well the average Ghanaian has been influenced by his past.
DESPITE this influence, a current event in our ‘civilized’ world is leading the Ghanaian to dump once beneficial but not scientifically proven traditions of the ancestor. One of such is the development of the habit of domiciling near a cemetery, which hitherto had been thought a taboo.
THIS development has health implications for the inhabitants but the various district and metropolitan assemblies under whose jurisdiction such problems fall have turned a death ear to that. A clear example is how the Ga South District of the Greater Accra Region has supervised the takeover of the Mile 11 cemetery by developers.
THE closure of one of the biggest cemeteries in the Accra metropolis has thus added to the apparent congestion in the Awudome cemetery, which serves the people of the capital. The congestion has further worsened following the takeover of portions of the burial ground by mechanics and scrap dealers.
HOWEVER, instead of finding a lasting solution to this problem, the mayor of Accra has added salt to injuries by selling portions of it to an auto-mobile company and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). Though the ECG might need the land to enhance the quality of service delivered in that part of the capital, a re-location of the project would help as the said land is needed for burial.
THE development, in the view of Today, is very unfortunate and must be stopped by the hands- that-be before the worst happens. This becomes worse especially in a situation when the cemetery is awaiting closure due to congestion.
INSTEAD of selling off the said land for development, why can’t we pause and listen to the concerns of the residents who have been the main recipients of the inconveniences brought about by the congested cemetery. At least a consideration of their complaints would help to appreciate the magnitude of the problem, as an expansion of the cemetery would help decrease the congestion.