Cultural perspectives and practices on death and dying in Ghana

Prince Kwame Affum, Gordon Tawiah, Anthony Otu-Abban and Eva Atika Bakuri Dinye

African Educational Research Journal
Published: August 25 2025
Volume 13, Issue 3
Pages 371-380
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16941759

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the cultural perspectives and practices of death and dying in Ghana. Informed by the interpretivist paradigm, the researchers conducted qualitative research using a case study design. The population comprised specific members of the royal family considered to be ‘elders’ because of the rich information they possessed. The researchers used a purposive sampling technique to obtain five (5) participants from the Volta, Bono, Ashanti, Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana. Semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from the participants. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The researchers discovered, among other things, that mourning involves a lot of drinking, dancing, and in some cases, a person within a certain kinship position is expected to marry the spouse of the deceased. It was also concluded, among other things, that most ethnic groups alienate members who are terminally ill because they do not understand the nature of their ailment. The study recommended that there is a need for professional counsellors to be well versed in the cultural beliefs, events and practices of communities they find themselves in to be more functional and effective in providing services to indigenes in Ghanaian communities.

Keywords: Culture, death, dying, terminal illness, tradition, Ghana.

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