Ghanaian Funeral Etiquette for Visitors: Taboos and Protocols

The Handshaking Protocol

When you arrive at the funeral grounds on Saturday afternoon, the first thing you'll do is approach the seated family line to shake hands. This isn't a casual greeting — it follows a strict directional rule.

The handshaking queue proceeds in a counter-clockwise direction: you move from right to left as you face the seated family. This alignment honors the ancestral flow of spiritual energy and maintains physical order across what can be a very large receiving line.

When greeting chiefs or traditional elders, bare your shoulders as a sign of deep respect. Wait for the chief's linguist (ɔkyeame) to signal whether a physical handshake is permitted. Some chiefs receive greetings through their linguist rather than directly.

Don't skip anyone in the receiving line. Don't shake hands with someone further down the line before those seated closer to you. The order matters and skipping is noticed.

Seating and Spatial Rules

The funeral ground layout is regimented. The bereaved maternal family sits in a long receiving line under red canopies, with the abusuapanyin and chief mourners positioned at the center. Traditional chiefs and queen mothers sit under massive, ornate umbrellas that communicate their political and ancestral status.

General sympathizers and community members sit under separate canopies — typically black or dark-colored — positioned facing the family section. Don't sit under the family canopies unless you've been specifically directed there by a family member or an usher.

When chiefs are seated under their umbrellas, the space around them carries implicit boundaries. Don't approach a chief's umbrella without being directed to do so, and don't stand between a chief and their linguist.

Photography and Filming

Photography and videography are widely accepted at Ghanaian funerals — many families hire professional photographers and videographers for the event. However, there's one hard rule: no close-up photos of the deceased during the laying-in-state without the express permission of the abusuapanyin.

Beyond that hard rule, use judgment. Photographing the seated family line, the donation proceedings, and the general atmosphere is fine. Photographing specific mourning rituals, the body being moved, or emotionally distressed family members crosses a line. If you're not sure whether a moment is appropriate to photograph, don't.

The family's designated photographer will capture the key moments — your role as a guest isn't to document the event.

Common Taboos

Several behaviors that seem harmless in other contexts carry real weight at an Akan funeral:

Don't announce or discuss the death publicly before the abusuapanyin authorizes it. If you learn of someone's death through informal channels, do not post about it on social media or tell others. The maternal family head controls the timing of public disclosure.

If you are a blood relation, don't wail immediately upon hearing of a death. In Akan belief, blood relations do not wail until the body has been formally laid down and covered. Premature wailing is believed to deafen the dead person and prevent final messages from being heard. Wailing is regulated — it happens at specific points in the funeral sequence.

Don't mix English into Twi during formal family sittings. Code-switching during traditional proceedings is considered disrespectful to the ancestors. If you don't speak the dialect, listen quietly and ask for translation afterward.

Don't attend funeral activities on restricted days. Funerals are strictly banned on sacred Dabɔne and Adae days (the nine-day cycle that includes Fɔdwo, Awukudae, Fofi, and Akwasidae). Under some traditional area by-laws, Wednesdays are also restricted — no laying-in-state or formal funeral rites.

Don't wear red if you're not family. Red signals blood kinship and intense personal grief. Wearing red as a distant acquaintance or work colleague announces a claim on the deceased's lineage that you don't hold.

What to Bring

Cash for the nsawa donation table. The amount depends on your relationship — close friends and associates contribute more than acquaintances. There's no fixed minimum, but the donation is publicly announced, so consider what amount reflects your relationship appropriately.

Don't bring flowers. Unlike Western funeral conventions, floral arrangements are not a standard part of Akan funeral customs. If you want to bring something, Schnapps or palm wine for the family is more culturally appropriate.

Your receipt from any prior funeral. If the deceased's family contributed to a funeral in your own family, bringing that receipt (or knowing the amount) helps you calculate your reciprocal contribution.

The Monday After

If you're closely connected to the family, you may be invited to the Monday morning accounting session. This is where the abusuapanyin and elders reconcile all funeral expenses against nsawa donations. If you attend, your role is to listen unless asked to contribute to the discussion. This session settles debts, distributes any surplus, and assigns ongoing financial obligations — it's family business, not a social gathering.

For a complete etiquette reference including chief-greeting protocols, timing-specific dress codes, and donation guidance by relationship tier, the West African Funeral — Ghana (Akan/Ashanti) guide has a dedicated visitor section designed for people attending their first Akan funeral.