There were unusual scenes at Sofokrom in the Sekondi–Takoradi Metropolis on Saturday when a dead body being prepared for burial was washed and swum with in a stream — an act that has stirred widespread shock and debate across the country.
Videos circulating on social media show members of the deceased’s family entering the stream and swimming with the corpse, a long-standing family ritual that many Ghanaians have criticised over public health and environmental concerns.
Adom News visited the home of the deceased to understand why the ritual persists.
In an interview, a relative, Maame Akua, explained that the practice is not new and remains a compulsory tradition in their family.
According to her, they must swim with the body to ensure the deceased is fully cleansed and “made wet” before burial.
Other family members present also defended the ritual, insisting it is a sacred practice passed down through generations.
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