A Kwahu man (one of the Akan ethnic groups of Ghana) invited his friends for his mother's burial. After lowering the coffin at the graveside, they put yam, rice, meat etc., into the grave.
A Hausa man (ethnic group from Nigeria and other Sahel regions of West Africa) asked why? The Kwahu man smiled and said, "according to our tradition, the dead go on a long journey hence need all the food items they can get". The Hausa man subsequently dropped a cash of GHS10,000 (ten thousand Ghana Cedis) inside grave and said, "when the food gets finished, buy more".
A Fante man (another one of the Akan ethnic groups of Ghana) also added GHS5,000 in cash and said, "add this in case it is not enough".
An Asante man (the single largest Akan ethnic group of Ghana) who was present at that time smiled, brought out his cheque book and wrote a cheque for GHS20,000. He dropped it in the coffin and took the GHS15,000 note cash as change, then said, "Eno Serwaa! withdraw this cheque when you reach Asamando (the Akan name for the world of the dead and ancestors)!...it is going to be a dangerous journey, we don’t know how many robbers are out there and no one will be there to save you so just manage the cheque" Damirifa Due! Fare thee well!!
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