By Amoh Spendilove (UniMAC-IJ, Department of Journalism and Media Studies aspendilove1@gmail.com)
Cemeteries are like a big garden, but instead of flowers and trees, there are solemn landscapes dotted with headstones, that serve as the final resting places for countless individuals including loved ones. Beyond their serene atmosphere, however, lies a complex world governed by traditions, regulations and the dedicated professionals who maintain these sacred grounds. This article delves into the many sided roles cemeteries play in our society, exploring the diverse burial practices observed, the importance of maintenance and the existing challenges faced by those who manage these hallowed spaces.
Awudome Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Accra. It has been in existence since the early 19th century and its management officially came into being before independence, that is around 1908. The cemetery is currently located in the center of a residential area called Awudome. The name “Awudome cemetery” was derived from the area within which the cemetery is located, it has two sides of which one side is used for burial and the other side is currently not in use.
According to Mr. Annan, the current sexton and a supervisor at Awudome Cemetery, burial practices vary widely across cultures and religions. A sexton at the cemetery is an individual who coordinates care of the cemetery, manage the legal and public aspect of burials and also helps with overall record keeping. There are rules and regulations governing burial processes. Before a dead body is buried, a family member of the deceased is supposed to meet the sexton at his office to secure a place for the burial. Before the commencement of burials, there is an amount to be paid. The amount of the money to be paid is determined by the age of the deceased. According to the sexton, from ages zero to six is free, seven to seventeen is 200 Ghana Cedis, and from ages eighteen and above is 1000 Ghana Cedis. However, there are different fees for graves and different types of tombs. A normal grave costs 800 Ghana Cedis while tombs cost 3,500 Ghana Cedis and above depending on the type of tomb.
The cemetery is in three sections. The Christian, Muslim and Traditional sections.
There used to be sections allocated for each church, such as Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Apostolic, catholic, Anglican, and others, but this is not done anymore .
Family of the deceased needs a pastor’s signature to prove that the dead person was a member of the church.
Muslims also need a burial permit from an Imam, which would serve as an evidence that the dead person used to be a true Muslim who offered his or her compulsory daily prayers and also observed the doctrines of Islam. One would be wondering why there should be an eyewitness to as to whether the person served as a true Muslim or not. In an Islamic society, a person who claims to be a Muslim but does not pray or observe the norms of Islam, does not deserve the Islamic burial practices when he or she dies.
He went further to say that, in the case where an individual does not belong to either the Christian and Islamic religion, he or she is buried in the traditional section and that, cremation is not done at the Awudome Cemetery.
The process of burying a deceased involves several steps, which vary depending on the location of death. There are two primary locations where individuals pass away; at home, or in a hospital.
In the case of hospital deaths, a pathologist issues a document called “cause of death,” which outlines the underlying cause of mortality. The family of the deceased submits this document to the birth and death registry to register the death. Upon successful registration, a burial permit will then be issued.
In instances where death occurs at home, it is classified as a “coroner’s case.” The family reports the death incident to the police, who investigate the scene to determine if a crime has been committed. The police generate a report, which the family takes to a competent court. The coroner or judge, then orders an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. After the autopsy, the family receives a “cause of death” document, which serves as the burial permit
The cemetery serve as a final resting place for individuals and such, there should be various measures put in place to maintain the place and its facilities. A well-maintained cemetery provides a peaceful and healthy space for remembrance.
With the process of maintaining the cemetery and preventing diseases at the Awudome Cemetery, recycling is a major concept employed. The recycling concept involves the reuse of old graves that have matured for a period of over fifteen to twenty years to make good use of the space. The process is done by digging four feet of old graves instead of the usual six feet. This is to prevent the exposure of the existing dead body beneath. This process is also known as the Double-Decker degradation.
The cemetery is a sacred place, therefore, random people and animals such as dogs, cattle and bovans are not allowed to enter there. This is to maintain its sanctity and serenity.
Also, the security personnel ensure that every item such as metals, immortelle, tools and equipment for digging in the cemetery are kept safe and protected. For this reason, some of the workers do sleep there. Tombs are for the family members so it is their responsibilities to rebuild them when broken. They pay the workers in the cemetery to rebuild them. The rebuilding of broken tombs is very crucial because, it prevents the exposure of the buried body parts and also prevent the outbreak of diseases such as Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and C, Leprosy etc.
Another way of maintaining the cemetery is keeping it clean. This is another duty of the workers, however, the community do help. For instance, some churches and Muslims sometimes organize members to participate in a clean-up event at the cemetery. In some instances, human bones are exposed to the natural environment due to extreme weather conditions such as heavy rainfall or strong winds. When this happens, the bones are gathered, collected and reburied as part of the cleaning and clearing protocols.
The cemetery uses solar panels, which were provided by the government and are maintained by professional electricians.
Regarding waste disposal, the cemetery has its own designated pit for burning waste materials deemed to be garbage. It is important to note that nothing leaves the cemetery premises, and no one is permitted to collect waste from the cemetery. This ensures a self-contained and sanitary environment.
The cemetery has some challenges even though it gets support from the government and the community. Inadequate tools such as cutlasses, shovels, spades, axes, etc is one of the numerous challenges the cemetery faces. According to Iddrisu Mustapha, a non-professional worker at the Awudome cemetery, laments that the available tools are not enough for effective and faster working progress. Another challenge is low level of motivation on the part of the non-professional class or workers. Mr Afrifa, out of distress said, “There has not been any increment in our salary since last year 2023, because our skills are undermined due to the fact that we are non-professional workers”. Furthermore, employing people to work in the cemetery is a challenge due to myths and superstitions. People believe that, before a person can be able to work at the cemetery, they need to possess a spiritual power or fortify themselves spiritually. This belief instils fear in others who possess the necessary skills for working at the cemetery. Martha Awuku, a seller and resident at Awudome community said, “I do not allow my children to go near the cemetery, let alone have engagements with those who work there”.
This statement by Martha attest to the fact that Social isolation is another major challenges faced by individuals who work in the cemetery, workers feel isolated due to negative perceptions of their job, leading to lower self-esteem and job satisfaction.
Ultimately, the story of Awudome Cemetery goes beyond just physical. It exhibit a mix of cultural and religious customs linked to burial rituals, all among challenges in maintaining the site.
The government’s aid is crucial in overcoming these challenges.
