The Last Cityscapes: Public Cemetery Management in Kumasi's Urban Terrain

Land is inelastic in supply. The judicious use of land within the urban land space is thus critical. Regrettably, little research has been done on planning and managing public cemeteries in Kumasi, Ghana. This study, incorporating insights from four public cemeteries and feedback from 79 participants, assesses the legislative and policy frameworks governing cemetery management in Kumasi. It also examines the condition of these cemeteries and identifies the challenges to their proper upkeep. Data were gathered through structured interviews and direct observation and were analysed thematically. Findings indicate that cemetery management in Kumasi is a collaborative task between Traditional Authorities and the local government, each operating under their respective but similar laws. Some of these cemeteries need more essential facilities, making them substandard in their current state, primarily due to financial limitations that impede effective management. This study makes recommendations to guide the effective and sustainable management of public cemeteries in Kumasi and beyond.