Coffin makers in Kumasi cry over poor sales; call for Government support

Coffin makers in Kumasi lament over poor sales they have been experiencing recently.

Kumasi is in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The coffin makers claim they are gradually been pushed out of business by some lumber buyers from Burkina Faso.

The Burkinabes are paying higher for rough cut lumber than the Ghanaians a source claimed. As a result of that, wood processors in Kumasi prefer to sell their woods to the Burkinabes because they pay higher for it than the Ghanaians.

The burkinabes now enjoy preferential treatment on the Kumasi domestic wood market.

Over 200 coffin markers on the Kumasi Asafo Labour enclave say the situation has made some of their colleagues to move out and settle in other parts of Kumasi, saying that coffin business is no longer lucrative as it used to be.

Kwabena Sarpong Chairman of the Coffin Makers Association when speaking about the situation said.

“Access to the wood is a major factor affecting the progress of our business. When you go to Sokoban Wood Village you can see piled wood all bought by Burkinabes because they have money and buy the lumber at higher prices,”
“the wood sellers are always eager to sell to them to the Burkinabes and this is affecting us”

also speaking on how much a coffin costs, he said

“As for the coffins we sell them from 400 to 4000 cedis. When you want a coffin we ask the type of wood and design so that will determine the price but at least with 400 cedis you will get a coffin from us,”

and while appealing to the government, he said

“Where we are currently working is not conducive for us to even train more youth because of lack of space. If the government can assist us like it assisted the woodworkers at Anloga Junction and relocated all of them to Sokoban Wood Village we will be grateful,”