Some section of Ghanaians who cry at funerals to get paid has increased their prices following hikes in petroleum products.
According to Ami Dokli one of such workers, those seeking their services should be prepared to pay Ghc2,000 as a minimum charge and Ghc4,000 as maximum.
Ami Dokli in an interview filed by Nhyira FM’s Ohemeng Tawiah said;
“We do it normal. When you call us and book for a funeral, we come to your place, we watch the ground, we assess it and then price you.”
Ami disclosed that they work in groups and that they will soon officially launch their association;
“We don’t have an association but I learnt recently that there are so many groups coming up” – She said.
Her group is made up of six widows who are all based in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital.
Ms. Dokli said the high demand for their services, amid an increase in fuel prices and general economic hardship, have pushed them to adjust their fees.
She reveals five dirge-singing criers who used to charge GHc5,000 a day will now provide the service for between Ghc7,000 and Ghc8,000, Ohemeng Tawiah reported.
“A lot has changed too because the demand is high so we have to change our prices; we have to increase our prices,” she revealed.
The upward adjustment follows discussions between her and other professional funeral criers. They took into consideration hikes in prices of petroleum products and transport fares, she revealed.
Ms Dokli says clients could pay even more, depending on the status of the deceased and bereaved relatives as well as the form the wailing will take.
“You know that some funerals you can’t charge them high. Some you can charge them so it depends on the funeral,” she said.
Deceased persons with lots of family members abroad provide ground for criers to make more money.
Wow..they just cry and take such huge monies.
