Sankofaonline News Desk : January 22, 2026
Every thriving society, whether rooted in Accra, Ho, Kumasi, or here in Chicago, stands on the firm pillars of norms, rules, and shared values. These principles are not mere suggestions; they are the invisible threads that hold our peace together. In most Ghanaian diaspora communities, these long‑standing norms have guided us faithfully, ensuring fairness, unity, and mutual respect. Yet, from time to time, some individuals drift from these agreed standards, creating ripples that disturb the calm waters of our collective life.
Within the Ghanaian community in Chicago, many organizations have clearly defined who qualifies for communal benefits. Traditionally, these benefits extend to one’s immediate family, mother, father, and children. In cases where parents have passed on, members may designate another close relative to stand in their place. This structure exists for one reason: to guarantee fairness, to ensure that every member has an equal and legitimate opportunity to receive support when the need arises.
But challenges emerge when individuals attempt to stretch these boundaries for personal gain. Increasingly, some try to introduce extended relatives or distant connections into benefit systems that were never designed to accommodate them. When this happens, the community risks being overwhelmed by what many now call “let‑me‑cash‑out funerals”. Are they events organized not out of necessity or responsibility, but out of convenience and opportunism? Your guess is as good as mine!
Imagine this scenario: a member has a legitimate funeral benefit event sanctioned by the community. On the same weekend, another individual organizes an event that clearly falls outside the accepted norms. Community members, torn between principle and social pressure, may feel compelled to split their contributions, diluting the support meant for the rightful beneficiary. Worse still, those who choose to stand by the rules and decline attending the illegitimate event are quickly labeled as unsupportive or harboring personal dislike. This is how unnecessary tension grows, not from malice, but from the erosion of shared standards.
It raises a difficult but necessary question: are some of these questionable funerals organized because the individuals involved are genuinely responsible for the burial of those relatives, or are they simply seeking to take advantage of the community’s generosity? Our communal spirit is built on love, empathy, and solidarity, but it cannot be exploited without consequence.
The truth is simple: the community cannot assume the personal responsibilities of every member in every situation . We gather to support one another, not to carry burdens that fall outside the boundaries we have collectively agreed upon. When these boundaries are ignored, the entire system becomes strained, and the very unity we cherish begins to crack.
As we move forward, let us recommit ourselves to the principles that have sustained us for decades. Let us honor the rules that protect fairness. Let us resist the temptation to bend norms for personal advantage. And above all, let us safeguard the peace, love, and mutual respect that define us as a people.
A community thrives not only on generosity alone , but on responsibility. When each member respects the structure that holds us together, we all benefit and our relationships grow stronger, healthier, and more enduring.
If we truly desire a peaceful, loving, and supportive Ghanaian community in Chicago and beyond , then we must all play our part in upholding the integrity of our shared values.
Finally, someone said it . Thank you .