“My Funeral Is For My Children Only” — What Asante Custom And Ghana Law Say About Daniel Obinim’s Wish
The prophet’s declaration sparks debate: Can Akan tradition override a dead man’s will?
When Prophet Daniel Obinim said “when I die, only my children should organize my funeral, not my wife or family,” he touched Ghana’s most sensitive nerve: who controls death.
In Asante land, death is not a private affair. It is a public, communal contract. So the question Ghanaians are asking is simple: Does Akan custom and Ghana law allow one man’s wish to lock out his wife and extended family from burying him?
1. What Asante/Akan Custom Says About Funerals
In Asante tradition, funeral organization is not left to personal wishes alone. It follows a structure:
a. The “Family” is in charge
Under Akan matrilineal custom abusua, the maternal family — not the nuclear wife and children — are the custodians of burial rites. The abusuapanyin or family head leads. This is because lineage, property, and inheritance flow through the mother’s line.
So traditionally, Obinim’s mother’s family, not just his children, would have the mandate to plan and perform rites. The wife is respected as yerɛ but she is not abusua. She is an in-law.
b. The wife’s role
The wife is central in mourning, caring for the body, feeding mourners, and sitting in state. But she does not “own” the funeral. Her family will also demand rites and compensation ayɛfɔ adeɛ from the husband’s family. Excluding her and her family would break custom.
c. Children’s role
Children, especially sons, are crucial. They lead public mourning, pay for rites, and inherit. Obinim saying “only children” aligns partly with custom — children are expected to take charge financially and ceremonially. But “only children, no wife, no family” contradicts the abusua system. Custom sees children as part of the mother’s family, not an independent unit.
d. A dead man’s wish
Akan custom does respect a person’s adwene or wish, especially about burial place or simple rites. Elders will listen. But the wish cannot violate mmara of the abusua. Custom balances individual desire with communal duty. The dead still “belongs” to the lineage.
2. What Ghana Law Says
The law and custom sometimes clash. Here’s the legal position:
a. No law forces a specific funeral format
Ghana has no statute that says, “your wife must bury you” or “your maternal uncle must bury you.” The 1992 Constitution protects freedom of religion and expression. So a person can state burial wishes in a will.
b. Wills Act, 1971 Act 360
A person can write a will directing burial arrangements and funeral expenses. If Obinim puts this wish in a valid will, courts will respect it — as long as it does not deny dependants their legal rights.
c. Intestate Succession Law PNDCL 111
If there is no will, the law does not dictate who plans the funeral. It focuses on property sharing. In practice, courts defer to custom for burial disputes. Judges often ask “what does the family say?” and then mediate.
d. The limit: rights of spouse and children
Even with a will, a spouse and children can claim “reasonable financial provision” from the estate under Section 13 of the Wills Act if the will leaves them destitute. A wish that bars the wife from all funeral roles could be challenged if it’s seen as denying her rights or dignity.
3. So Is Obinim Right? Can His Wish Carry?
The answer is “yes and no,” depending on which rule you apply:
By strict Asante custom: No
Custom will say the abusua must be involved. Excluding the wife and maternal family breaks matrilineal order. Elders would likely overrule him and insist on family rites, or risk “bad death” spiritual consequences according to traditional belief.
By Ghana law with a valid will: Partially Yes
If Obinim writes a clear, witnessed will stating “my children alone should organize my funeral and control funds for it,” courts will likely enforce that part. The wife cannot legally force herself to be the organizer. But she can still mourn, and her family can still perform customary rites for her sake. The law protects wishes, not drama.
The reality on the ground: Negotiation
In Ghana, even with a will, funerals become a negotiation. Families rarely allow a spouse to be totally locked out because of public pressure, church pressure, and fear of curses. The person who pays usually controls the funeral. If Obinim’s children pay, they will lead. If the family pays, they will lead.
The Bigger Question
Obinim’s statement reflects a modern tension: the nuclear family vs the extended abusua. Many Ghanaian men now want their wives and children, not uncles, to control their death. Custom says death is communal. Law says your wish matters if you write it down.
So is he right?
– Morally/Culturally: Asante elders would say he’s wrong to exclude wife and abusua.
– Legally: He’s right if he documents it properly. The law will back his written wish over oral family arguments. However the Will can be challenged in Court.
The lesson for every Ghanaian man: If you want your funeral done your way, don’t announce it on TV. Write it. Witness it. Fund it. Because in Akan land, the dead don’t speak — the living and the law do.