Ghana has a large and established British-Ghanaian community, and British deaths there regularly involve families with strong ties in both countries. The question of whether to hold the funeral in Ghana or repatriate is particularly meaningful here, where Ghanaian funeral traditions carry deep community significance. This guide answers the questions UK families ask after a death in Ghana.
For the full process and high commission detail, see our complete guide to repatriation from Ghana. This article focuses on the practical questions.
The burial choice
Ghanaian funeral traditions, including the lying-in-state and the community gathering, are important to many British-Ghanaian families. A funeral in Ghana, particularly in the deceased’s hometown, can carry a meaning that a UK service alone cannot replicate. Other families choose repatriation so that family members in the UK can attend and visit the grave over time.
A coordinator can explain both routes and what each involves, without steering the family one way.
Registration and the police report
The death certificate in Ghana is issued by the Births and Deaths Registry after registration. A police report is required as a standard step before registration can proceed. For a sudden or unexplained death, additional investigation by the police may delay registration. The Ghana Health Service issues the export permit once the documentation is assembled.
The Accra route
International cargo operates from Kotoka International Airport in Accra. A death in Kumasi or another city outside Accra means a domestic transfer. The coordinator and local funeral director manage the transfer and documentation in parallel.
For further guidance, see our articles on who pays for repatriation when someone dies abroad and what happens when a body arrives in the UK from abroad.