While the announcement of the new tomb price at Bè-Kpota Cemetery continues to be a subject of controversy, the Mayor of Golfe 1 Municipality, Joseph Koamy Gomado, has sought to provide further clarifications.
In a statement released on July 17, 2023, Golfe-1 Municipality unveiled a new uniform pricing policy for the acquisition of graves at Bè-Kpota Cemetery, set at 120,000 FCFA. This price includes the construction of a tomb meeting specific dimensions: 0.80 meters in depth, 2.5 meters in length, and 1.20 meters in width, covered with an 8mm thick reinforced concrete slab.
Quickly, this new measure regarding the harmonization of grave prices at the community cemetery of Bè-Kpota sparked strong reactions among the residents. In response to the discontent expressed by the population, Mayor Joseph Koamy Gomado decided to clarify the vision behind this decision, emphasizing its importance for the sustainability and dignity of the final resting places.
The Mayor, Joseph Koamy Gomado, reiterated that this measure was primarily an effort to formalize the practice of acquiring graves in the community cemetery. According to him, this harmonization of prices aims to avoid exorbitant fees and inequalities among users while ensuring the quality and longevity of the burial sites.
“The new price is merely the formalization of the practice to have a solid tomb that does not collapse after a few months. This price is based on a technical and financial evaluation, the details of which are included in the statement we made public,” explained the Mayor of Golfe-1. He also emphasized that this decision followed an external audit that assessed the state of the cemetery, identifying damaged or poorly maintained graves, and revising administrative procedures to improve site management.
Previously, grave prices were subject to unfair and opaque fluctuations, providing neither quality nor durability of funeral structures. Therefore, the harmonization of prices aims to establish an equitable practice, where every citizen can acquire a decent burial place for their loved ones without fearing excessive costs or subpar services, the Mayor of Golfe-1 stated.
