Sustainable use and management of cemeteries in the Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana

Abstract

Land for burials is one of the issues that Metropolitan areas are confronted with. Cemeteries have become a valuable and a limited resource and should not be forgotten that land for cemetery usage in the Accra Metropolis is scarce. This calls for cemeteries to be very well planned and managed in the light of sustainability. However, despite actions taken by the government and local authorities in addressing this issue, there is no strategic solution to ensuring the sustainable use and management of cemeteries in the Accra Metropolitan. Area. The research, therefore, focuses on sustainable management of cemeteries in the Accra Metropolitan Area and addresses the question of examining cemetery management practices and evaluating of sustainable use of cemeteries within the Accra Metropolitan Area. The target population for the study were selected employees from sampled cemeteries within the Accra Metropolis such as Cemetery management staff, supervisors, non-management staff, and other stakeholders. Overall, thirty-eight (38) employees and stakeholders constituted the actual sample size for the study. It makes use of the structured and other open-ended questionnaires as the main survey data collection technique. The study concluded that cemeteries have made a significant contribution to the development of the Metropolis through the re-using of old graves and earth burial. Thus, the management of the cemeteries impacted positively on sustainability and recommends that stakeholders should develop a comprehensive national policy framework to guide the activities and management of cemeteries in the country.