The Awudome Cemetery in Accra, a sacred and serene resting place for the dead, is gradually being turned into a dumping site, with trash and filth littering the grounds and front view of the place.
What is supposed to be the final resting place of the dead is strewn with rubbish, including coconut husks and plastic waste.
Also, the front view of the cemetery is being turned into a bustling commercial place with auto-mechanics and vulcanising shops and a hub for the sale of all manner of wares.
Describing the front view of the Awudome Cemetery, particularly towards the Ring Road West, as an eyesore will not be an exaggeration as the place is littered with trash.
Coconut sellers around the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange have turned that side of the cemetery between the SSNIT Informal Sector offices and the State Insurance Company (SIC) building into a refuse dump.
Some ‘junkies’ too have turned the cemetery into their abode as they sleep on the tomb stones during the day.
Further, some of the ‘junkies’ continue to use the cemetery as a den for all manner of social vices, including smoking of weed and the use of hard drugs.
In addition, the cemetery is being used as a place of convenience by the junkies and some individuals who operated businesses around the place.
Parts of the wall around the cemetery, which are meant to provide security and prevent the use of the place as thoroughfare have broken down.
Besides, the cemetery is over-grown with weeds, making what is supposed to be a resting place for the dead an eyesore.
Some of the tombs in the Awudome Cemetery, the largest cemetery in Accra, which has been in existence since the early 19th century, are broken and graves have caved in.
The front side of the cemetery had been turned into burning grounds with smoke always billowing from the place.
Another issue of concern is the deterioration of the physical state of the cemetery besides it being used for criminal activities.
It is said that some individuals lurk in the bush in and around the cemetery at night to rob passers-by of their belongings.
Some workers with corporate organisations around the cemetery, who pleaded anonymity in interviews with The Ghanaian Times said they were victims of attacks and robbery around the cemetery.
“My brother, I was attacked and robbed of my belongings about 15 years ago, when I was using the Ring Road West Road to Kaneshie after I returned from my hometown,” one of the victims told The Ghanaian Times.
Another worker said “an assignment kept me late in the office and decided to stand in front of the cemetery to pick a taxi home, but I was attacked and robbed of my money and left to my fate. It took a good Samaritan driver to take me home.”
A sexton at the Awudome Cemetery who also pleaded anonymity, told The Ghanaian Times that steps were being taken to put the cemetery in a good shape.
According to him, he had reported the deterioration of the cemetery and the use of a part of it as a dumping site to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
He said the change of government had led to a change in the management of the cemetery, which has stalled the efforts.
The source said, “We believe that the walls will be repaired, and the place will be put in a good condition for the dead to rest in peace,” he said.
The Ghanaian Times gathered that a grave cost between GH¢2000 to GH¢3,000,
BY RAYMOND APPIAH-AMPONSAH & EUGENE AMPIAW
