Ghanaians like to go out in style. Those that can afford it like to be buried in a coffin that in some way symbolises their life – usually their occupation, but sometimes some other quality. They therefore commission a coffin from a coffin shop, where there are skilled workers who can carve out something appropriate; this will form the coffin lid. I have no idea how much they cost, and there must be extra cost for the grave diggers to provide a big enough grave to accommodate the extra size.
I have passed one of these coffin shops in Teshie, a suburb of Accra – see my Brief History for a photo – and I gather that there may be more. If I should die in Ghana, I have decided what coffin I would like – but I have yet to place an order …
This video gives some more details, culled from the BBC.