Transformation of Ga Death and Funeral Rites in Accra, Ghana

This article examines the background to transformations in the traditional funeral rites of the Ga ethnic group of Accra, the capital city of Ghana. It finds that major changes in Ga customs and traditions began appearing in the late nineteenth century, when colonial authorities moved the capital of the then Gold Coast from Cape Coast to Accra, the core of the Ga traditional communities. Although important political, social, and economic changes were to be expected, customs and tradition, in particular, underwent considerable changes. This article, using qualitative, historical, and ethnographic methods, examines how factors associated with growth and modernization in Accra, especially after World War II, helped transform Ga cultural practices. It helps explain the importance of multidisciplinary research and contributes to studies in the interrelations of modernization, custom, and tradition.