Nkawie-Kuma (Ash), Feb 16, GNA - Nana Twum-Barima III, chief of Nkawie-Kuma in Atwima-Nwabiagya district has instituted stringent measures to reduce the high cost of funerals in his community. The measures include the ban on the purchase of burial items "Adesiedie" and special clothes for both final funeral rites and thanksgiving service.

He has also banned the use of beer and expensive alcoholic drinks during funerals, 40 days and one-year celebrations for the dead. Nana Twum-Barima, who was addressing his people during an annual get-together held at Nkawie-Kuma, said it was not prudent for bereaved families to spend huge sums of monies celebrating the dead when the "living kept suffering".

He maintained that certain families in the name of paying last respect to their deceased relatives spend lavishly on funerals, which to his mind was just a waste since there were other poor members of the families who could be helped with such monies. The chief also called on his people to make the education of their children their top most priority since there cannot be any meaningful development without quality education.

"Monies wasted on expensive funerals co uld be invested in education to bring development to the nation", he added. Nana Twum-Barima ordered that soft drinks donated by loved ones during one-week celebrations should be kept for use on the day the final funeral rites would be observed.

He appealed to citizens living abroad to assist the community's Urban Four School Project.