Barima Offe Akwasi Okogyeasuo II, Omanhene of Kokofu, has appealed to his people to get their priorities right and cut down on funeral expenses.
He described as totally misplaced and completely out of step with the Akan traditional practice, the situation where funerals are turned into big parties, with special foods and expensive drinks served.
According to him, funerals were supposed to be solemn where people painfully mourn the dead but that seems to be lost these days.
Barima Offe Akwasi, who was speaking at the official opening of the Bosome-Freho Rural Bank at Nsuaem Number Two in the Bosome Freho district, said it was difficult to say whether people were out there just to entertain themselves or to grieve for the dead.
This certainly must stop, he said, as the people listened with rapt attention.
The Omanhene suggested that funerals instead should be used to address challenges facing the families and how to strengthen the family-support systems.
Barima Offe Akwasi also counseled the people not to allow partisan politics to divide them, saying they should be tolerant of opposing views.
He said there should be mutual respect among followers of the different political parties to prevent unnecessary tension and maintain the peace in the area.
Bosome Freho, being one of the newly created districts, he pointed out, required peace, unity of purpose and cooperation of all the people to make progress.
He encouraged the people not only to save with the rural bank but to buy more shares to help to expand its capital base.