Let’s Redefine Funeral Tourism – Vida Adutwumwaa

Following the successful organisation of the final funeral rites (Dote Yie) of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Ama Konadu Yiadom III, which was held from September 15 to 18, 2025 at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, the heart of the Ashanti Kingdom, media personality Vida Adutwumwaa Boateng has called for a relook at the funeral tourism proposal introduced under the previous Nana Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.

During her appearance on UTV’s United Showbiz, Ms. Boateng posited that Ghana’s cultural heritage is characterized by its unique funeral traditions, which can be leveraged to generate substantial revenue through funeral tourism.

She highlighted the seamless integration of creative elements in the organization of the late Asantehemaa’s funeral.

According to Ms. Boateng, the recent funeral has generated a discussion on social media about the funeral tourism initiative introduced by the previous government.

Following the funeral and comparing it to the then Minister’s submission on funeral tourism, she believed that Ghana could have done better. She mentioned that in America and other parts of the world, certain cemeteries have become tourist attractions.

She also noted that the then minister’s description of funeral tourism was met with ridicule. After witnessing the Asantehemaa’s funeral, she suggested that a properly arranged initiative could have been beneficial.

Ms. Boateng advised the current Ghana Tourism Authority leadership to revise the funeral tourism initiative and attract more tourists to generate state revenue.

Ola Kwaku Michael, an entertainment pundit, argued that the tourism sector has failed to leverage the cultural significance of the just-ended funeral, largely due to the ineffective implementation of the funeral tourism initiative.