The Oti Region, established in December 2018 from the Volta Region, is home to a diverse population of around 800,000 people, predominantly from Guan-speaking tribes such as Krachi, Nchumuru/Chonke, and Buem, along with various migrant groups. The region comprises six districts, with Dambai serving as the regional capital.
The primary economic activities in the Oti Region are farming, which employs 60% of the workforce, along with fishing, poultry, and trading. Despite the hard work of the community members, poverty remains prevalent in the region. However, one must question: are the inhabitants truly impoverished? What are the costs associated with funerals in the area, and how do these expenditures affect investments in education for children, which could help break the cycle of poverty?
The importance of education cannot be overstated. It serves as a “passport to the future.” However, during my work with the Ghana Education Outcomes Project, I observed a disturbing trend: many children in formal schools lack essential school supplies such as pens, pencils, books, uniforms, and bags. Teachers face daily challenges due to the scarcity of learning materials, hindering effective teaching.
Shockingly, some parents prioritize spending on extravagant funerals over investing in their children’s education. While some families manage to provide for their children’s basic needs, others prefer to showcase their wealth through costly funeral arrangements, neglecting the educational needs of their children. For instance, the funds spent on a single funeral could supply 50 dual desks for schools, yet the community chooses to invest in funerals instead.
This focus on lavish funerals has become a social impairment, overshadowing the importance of education. I’ve witnessed parents’ associations struggling to organize meetings or support school administrations while at the same time, families splurge on funerals. In some cases, entire communities even travel with children to attend funerals, causing temporary school closures in both the hosting and visiting communities.
While honoring the deceased is important, it should not come at the cost of children’s futures. It’s crucial for religious institutions and development organizations to shift the community’s mindset towards prioritizing children’s education over costly funerals.
Education is a powerful tool in the fight against poverty and the foundation for building resilient communities. The choices made by the inhabitants of the Oti Region will have long-term implications for their future. They face a critical decision: invest in their children’s education or continue to save for elaborate funerals. Both education and death are inevitable parts of life, but the focus should be on securing a brighter future for the next generation.
