Honouring memory beyond the funeral: One-year anniversary posters in Ghana

Remembering one year on

In Ghanaian culture, people continue to remember and honour the deceased long after they have passed away. Families often hold a one-year anniversary after the funeral, celebrated to honour the life of the departed once again, to reaffirm community bonds.

Central to this observance is the one-year anniversary funeral poster, a public reminder that the person’s legacy continues to live in memory and community spirit.

Why one-year anniversary posters matter

Funerals in Ghana are deeply social events, involving extended family, friends, neighbours, and entire communities. The anniversary poster plays a key role in:

Marking continuity – It reminds everyone that love and memory remain strong even a year later.
Inviting participation – It announces thanksgiving services, memorial masses, or family gatherings.
Cultural respect – It affirms that the deceased’s contributions are still cherished.
Community connection – Just as with the initial funeral poster, the anniversary notice draws people together in solidarity.

As CNN’s coverage of Ghana’s lavish funerals highlights, remembrance practices are not observed for mourning but also for celebrating life in the community.

Design elements of one-year anniversary posters

Though often simpler than the main funeral poster, anniversary designs still carry solemn dignity. Common features include:

Portrait of the deceased – Often the same as used in the funeral poster, symbolising continuity.
Wording – “One-Year Anniversary” or “In Loving Memory” as headline.
Event details – Memorial service date, time, and venue.
Family names – Chief mourner, children, and extended relatives.
Colours – Black and white, or black and red, with some families choosing softer tones like grey or cream.

These design choices show respect while signalling that the remembrance is reflective rather than as elaborate as the main funeral.

Challenges families face

Creating one-year anniversary posters can also be demanding:

Emotional weight – Families relive grief while preparing for the event.
Costs – Printing new posters, sometimes alongside brochures or banners, adds financial strain.
Limited reach – Diaspora relatives may never see the physical posters.
Short lifespan – Posters fade, tear, or are removed soon after the event.

The everlasting digital obituary as a solution

At Ghana Memorial, we support families with tools that ensure one-year anniversaries are dignified and lasting. With our everlasting digital obituary, you can:

Create a One Year Anniversary page that serves as a digital poster and memorial.
Share updates instantly with diaspora relatives via WhatsApp or email.
Pair the poster with a Funeral Appreciation Card or Funeral Program for the service.
Gather tributes through the Online Condolence Book.
Preserve every memory permanently on a Ghana Memorial page, ensuring the anniversary lives on beyond one day.
Organise everything with the Funeral Planner, reducing the burden on grieving families.

By blending printed posters with digital memorials, families save costs, extend their reach, and ensure remembrance continues with dignity.

Aside from serving as a notice, a first anniversary funeral poster also plays a role as a cultural expression of love, memory, and respect. It reminds the community that even a year later, the deceased’s life remains cherished.