The increase in prices of casket has forced a family head to consider adopting the Islamic mode of biding farewell to the deceased.
Opanin Kofi Kyei, a family head who spoke with Akoma FM’s Antwi Boasiako said he cannot bear the high cost of caskets anymore considering the spiraling prices.
Opanyin Kyei, who last purchased one at a cost of ₵1,200.00 says he now has to get same product for ₵2,500 and beyond.
His resort, he noted, is to inform other family heads in his area to get a coffin each for the family, so that whenever they’re bereaved, they wouldn’t have to spend huge sums of money acquiring a casket.
“Last month I bought one for ₵1,200 and now it is ₵3,000 and ₵2,500. We are going to adopt the Muslim style. I will inform all the other family heads. We’ll go to Magazine, ask them to get us one metal coffin, when you die, we’ll wrap you with cloth and bury you. When we come, we’ll wash it and dry it in the sun and put it inside the room because the price of coffin has become too much,” frustrated Opanin Kofi Kyei lamented.
When asked if the family members disagree with his proposal, he lividly said “if you won’t agree that’s up to you. Then you’ll have to provide funds for your casket before you die. Yes, either ₵3,000 or ₵4,000 so that when you die we use it to bury you either than that, we will bury you the Muslim way.”
Meanwhile, some casket manufacturers and sellers who spoke with Akoma FM attributed the rise.in cost the hiked raw materials which leaves them with no other option than to also shift the final burden on consumers.
One Ato, Managing Director of God’s way Casket Shop noted the price of coffin has gone up including imported ones.
He stressed that “due to the economic hardship we no longer accept any part payment for these caskets because the prices of the materials keep changing and we don’t want to run at a loss.”
They are therefore calling on the government to as a matter of urgency implement measures to bring relief to their business.
Source: Onuaonline.com|Ghana
