Managing funeral donations transparently in Ghana

Funeral donations are money gifts offered by relatives, friends, colleagues, churches, and community groups to support a bereaved family. In Akan, funeral donations are called "nsawa". Appointed family representatives or a funeral committee collect these contributions. A clear record helps them acknowledge each gift, account for spending and explain how the money supported the agreed arrangements.

A brother in Kumasi sends mobile money. A daughter abroad shares the funeral details. At the funeral, church members approach the donation table with an envelope. Their support reaches the family through different routes, but each contribution deserves the same care.

Giving has an important place in Akan funeral practice. K. Agyekum’s paper, The Language of Nsawa: Akan Funeral Donations, examines the language people use when making donations to bereaved families. Practices differ between communities, so families should agree on arrangements that respect their own customs.

The following steps help families manage both cash and digital contributions with less confusion.

Collecting donations at the funeral

A clearly identified donation table gives mourners one place to contribute and ask questions. Before the funeral, agree who will receive money, who will record it and who will check the totals.

Where possible, divide the work between three people:

1. A collector - receives the contribution and confirms the donor’s name.

2. A recorder - enters the details and prepares the acknowledgement.

3. A checker or witness - confirms the amount and helps reconcile the money.

These are practical safeguards rather than a fixed rule for every Ghanaian funeral. A smaller gathering may need fewer people, but one person should not carry the whole responsibility without a check.

Count cash discreetly, with at least two appointed people present. At agreed intervals, compare the cash with the written entries. Both people should sign the total before handing money to the family’s appointed custodian.

If someone gives an envelope on behalf of a church, workplace or association, confirm how the group wishes to be recorded. Keep funeral funds separate from personal money, and document each handover.

Before collecting begins, explain what the money will support. Funeral expenses, support for dependants and later memorial arrangements may have different purposes. Agreeing this early helps prevent misunderstandings.

Recording donations in a funeral receipt book

A funeral receipt book gives the family a consistent record of contributions received. It also helps organisers answer questions later without relying on memory.

For each funeral contribution, record:

• A unique entry or receipt number.

• The donor’s name, or the group represented.

• The date and amount received.

• The payment method: cash, MoMo or card.

• The collector’s initials.

• A transaction reference, where relevant.

For cash donations, a numbered duplicate receipt book lets the contributor receive an acknowledgement while the family retains a copy. If an entry needs correcting, keep the original readable and initial the correction.

A funeral donation receipt acknowledges money received. Don't confuse it with a supplier’s receipt showing how the family spent money. Keep both types of records so the final account covers income and expenses.

Avoid counting the same donation twice. If a digital payment is also entered in the paper book, mark it as a digital contribution and include its transaction reference.

Ghana Memorial Products’ Funeral Donation Receipt is coming soon. Until it becomes available, families can use an ordinary numbered duplicate receipt book.

Receiving donations by MoMo or card, including from family abroad

Not everyone can attend the funeral or visit the donation table. MoMo and card payments give relatives and friends another way to contribute, including those living abroad.

The Donation Link is available now and included in every Ghana Memorial. It supports contributions through MoMo and credit or debit cards, helping families share one digital contribution route.

Place the same official link on the memorial page and in family messages. If cash is also accepted, explain that both routes feed into the same family account.

For digital payments:

1. Confirm the payment in the receiving account or payment record before marking it as received.

2. Record the donor’s name and transaction reference.

3. Note any payment fees separately, where applicable.

4. Record the amount received in Ghana cedis and retain any relevant currency information.

5. Match digital totals with the family’s main donation record regularly.

A screenshot can help identify a payment, but it should not replace confirmation that the money arrived.

For family abroad, share the official link directly and explain how contributions will be acknowledged. Never ask contributors to share their MoMo PIN, card PIN or one-time security code.

Digital collection makes participation easier. The family still needs to reconcile payments, record expenses and agree who may authorise spending.

Sharing a clear account with the family after the funeral

Once the main arrangements are complete, prepare an account for the agreed family representatives. Set a realistic date, allowing time to confirm late contributions and outstanding bills.

The account should show:

• Total cash contributions.

• Total digital contributions.

• Payment fees, where applicable.

• Expenses paid, supported by receipts.

• Bills still outstanding.

• Money remaining and its agreed purpose.

Reconcile the donation book, cash handovers and digital payment records before presenting the totals. Ask a second appointed person to review the account and record any unresolved differences.

If money remains, follow the family’s agreed decision about its use. Record that decision, especially where funds will support dependants or future memorial activities.

Transparency does not require publishing every donor’s name and amount online. Share detailed records with the people responsible for oversight. A wider thank-you message can give an overall update without exposing private information.

If something does not balance, explain the difference and investigate it. A clear account can include an honest note about an item still being checked.

Thanking the people who contributed

Acknowledgement completes the process with care. Thank people for financial support, practical help, time and presence, without making anyone feel that the size of their contribution determines its value.

A family message could say:

“Our family thanks everyone who supported us through donations, practical help and messages of comfort. Your kindness helped us with the funeral arrangements and reminded us that we were not alone.”

Send individual acknowledgements where possible. Churches, workplaces and associations may also appreciate confirmation that their collective contribution arrived.

Ask before publicly naming a donor or sharing an amount. Some people prefer to give privately.

Clear donation records help families recognise support accurately and settle arrangements with fewer unanswered questions. They also leave more time for what matters: being together and remembering the person who has died.

To organise digital contributions alongside your loved one’s memorial, explore the Donation Link, included in every Ghana Memorial from Ghana Memorial Products.

For more guidance on organising contributions and keeping clear records, visit the Ghana Memorial Solutions Page.

Written by: David Owusu Asante