Patapaa Sparks Commotion at His Mother’s Funeral After Blocking Abusuapanin From Funeral Fund

ACCRA, Ghana — Popular Ghanaian musician Patapaa, known off‑stage as Justice Amoa, triggered a social media storm during the one‑week celebration of his late mother’s passing after he took control of the cash donations instead of allowing the family head, the abusuapanin, to manage the funds.

One‑Week Celebration Turns Into Online Debate

At the recent one‑week observation of his late mother, Madam Ekua Boatemaa, held in Agona Swedru, Patapaa was seen in a viral video collecting donations from well‑wishers in a polythene bag and handling the money himself, a move that surprised many Ghanaians online. This action appeared to prevent the family’s abusuapanin — traditionally responsible for overseeing funeral funds and contributions — from accessing or controlling the donations.

The emotional scenes of Patapaa and his siblings mourning their late mother were widely shared, but it was the musician’s decision to secure the cash that sparked mixed reactions among netizens, with some praising his initiative and others saying it broke traditional norms of funeral protocol in Ghana. The video stirred particularly intense commentary as it contrasted sharply with the expected role of the family head in funeral financial matters, a position that often carries both cultural and administrative authority in many Ghanaian communities.

Cultural Context and Responses

Funerals in Ghana are deeply rooted in custom, where elders or the abusuapanin typically play key roles in managing donations, contributions, and overall proceedings. Patapaa’s handling of the funds at his mother’s funeral event challenged these conventions, leading to a broader conversation about changing funeral practices and the role of individual family members in traditional rites.

The incident has generated a wide range of opinions on social media platforms, with some Ghanaians applauding Patapaa’s determination to directly support his grieving family, while others urged respect for customary structures and processes.

Tributes to the Late Madam Ekua Boatemaa

Despite the controversy over the fundraising, many sympathisers publicly shared messages of condolence to Patapaa and his family as they observed the somber rites for Madam Ekua Boatemaa. Videos and photos from the event showed family, friends, and community members gathering to pay their respects and honour her memory.

The one‑week celebration, an important early stage in Ghanaian mourning traditions, highlighted both the emotional weight of personal loss and the evolving dynamics of traditional funerary customs in contemporary society.