The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, says he remains a firm advocate of the funeral tourism concept.
He reiterated his belief in the potential of funeral tourism during the Joy FM Manifesto Debate on the Creative Economy, where he discussed his reasons for supporting the idea.
Speaking with Kwame Dadzie, Okraku-Mantey emphasized that his stance on funeral tourism has not wavered since he first proposed the idea in 2021. He recalled the widespread attention the concept received and explained the rationale behind it.
“I still believe in funeral tourism. The month we discussed funeral tourism, it went viral. I remember telling the whole of Ghana that one of the most popular tourist sites in Japan is their cemetery because it’s the biggest. When it comes to tourism, it’s the prerogative of the seller to craft a story that can attract people. Ghanaians already travel for funerals. So why don’t we add tourism to it? I believe in it any day, any time. It’s not in the manifesto because not everything has to be in the manifesto,” Okraku-Mantey explained.
During the debate, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyeman, and Okraku-Mantey’s co-speaker, also supported the concept. He highlighted the tourism potential embedded in Ghanaian funerals and how leveraging them could yield greater economic gains for the country.
“If you look at the UN’s definition of tourism, anyone who travels outside their normal place for less than a year is considered a tourist. When you travel to a funeral in the Volta Region or Tamale, you might not consider yourself a tourist, but you are. You could stay in a hotel, eat in a restaurant, all of which are part of the tourism industry,” Agyeman said.
He further elaborated on how the funeral culture in places like the Ashanti Region already incorporates elements of tourism, such as music, cultural performances, transport services, and sound engineering. The ministry’s idea, according to Agyeman, was to explore ways of formalizing this connection and capitalizing on the existing funeral culture to boost the local economy.
Mark Okraku-Mantey first introduced the idea of funeral tourism during a discussion on Hitz FM in November 2021, quoting Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, the former Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture. Despite his Muslim faith, Dr. Awal had maintained a professional approach to the issue, recognizing the potential of Ghana’s funeral culture to draw tourists.
“You [Christians] keep your bodies [corpse], and there are things you do that can attract people to go to a particular town,” Okraku-Mantey recalled Dr. Awal’s statement at the time.
In 2023, Dr. Awal reignited the discussion, proposing a detailed plan to integrate funeral-related activities with tourism. He suggested that funerals held near tourist attractions could include local experiences such as traditional food and drinks, and visits to nearby landmarks. According to him, this would not only attract tourists but also support local economies.
“When there’s a funeral, we can announce that we’re going to places like Bonwire, where Kente is sold. People will spend money there. We’ll bus them for free, and in the process, they’ll buy food, artefacts, and enrich the local economy. We’ll take advantage of funerals to deepen our cultural assets and create jobs for the youth,” Dr. Awal had remarked.
While funeral tourism has yet to become a formal policy in Ghana’s tourism sector, both Okraku-Mantey and Agyeman remain optimistic about its potential. With tourism already being touted as the second-largest sector of Ghana’s economy, proponents believe that integrating funerals into the tourism framework could further boost the industry, creating new opportunities for economic growth and job creation.