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AfricaRepatriation to Ghana and back to Germany
In Ghana, the funeral is one of the most important events in family life, and many relatives wish for the burial to take place in the home town. We transfer the deceased in a coffin or an urn from anywhere in Germany to Accra-Kotoka Airport and bring the deceased home from Ghana to Germany.
Rudolf Nordheimer and team – in German, Russian or English.
Ghana at a glance
- Transport route
- Air freight with a transfer, e.g. via a European hub such as Brussels
- Destination airport
- Accra Kotoka International (ACC)
- Certificates
- no apostille (Ghana is not a party); German legalisation of Ghanaian documents discontinued
- Agreements
- neither the Berlin Agreement of 1937 nor the Council of Europe Agreement of 1973
- Representation in Germany
- Embassy in Berlin, Consulate General in Hamburg, honorary consuls in Munich-Gräfelfing and Hanover
- German mission in Ghana
- German Embassy Accra
Repatriation from Germany to Ghana
There is no road connection to Ghana; the repatriation is carried out by air freight to Kotoka International Airport in Accra. As a rule, the coffin travels with a transfer at a European hub, such as Brussels; depending on capacity and freight space, other connections may also be considered. From the airport, a Ghanaian funeral director takes over, often first taking the deceased to a mortuary until the family has set the date of the funeral.
For a coffin, Ghanaian missions abroad usually require a certified death certificate, a local burial or transfer permit, the embalmer’s certificate of freedom from infectious diseases, a corresponding confirmation from the health authority and a copy of the passport. The coffin must be hermetically sealed and travel in a wooden crate. The competent mission for deceased persons from Germany is the embassy in Berlin (Stavanger Straße); for Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania there is a Consulate General in Hamburg. We clarify in advance which form the embassy currently requires.
Relatives who wish to travel with the deceased need a visa, which must be applied for before the journey; the Ghanaian embassy provides the current application procedure. Yellow fever vaccination is also mandatory on entry.
- Death certificatefrom the German civil registry office, international or English version
- Body passportfrom the competent German authority, serves as the transfer permit
- Certificate of freedom from infectious diseasesfrom a doctor or the health authority
- Embalming certificateConfirmation of hygienic preparation and of the hermetically sealed coffin
- Copy of the deceased’s passportGhanaian or German passport
- Confirmation from the Ghanaian embassyCertification of the documents by the mission in Berlin
Death in Ghana – repatriation to Germany
If a relative dies in Ghana, first engage a Ghanaian funeral director. The death certificate is issued by the Births and Deaths Registry. Normally this only happens after the burial; for a repatriation, however, the certificate is issued beforehand and travels with the deceased. These formalities are usually handled by the local funeral director. For the embassy and the German funeral director you will also need the deceased’s passport and a medical certificate stating the cause of death.
The repatriation to Germany is carried out by air. The German Embassy in Accra states that preparation usually takes one to three weeks, and longer if there is a police investigation. You should only set the funeral date in Germany once the Ghanaian and German funeral directors have confirmed the transport details. Relatives usually do not need to travel to Ghana.
For a repatriation, the embassy advises obtaining an all-inclusive quote covering Ghana, transport and burial in Germany. That is exactly what we provide: we coordinate with the funeral director in Accra and organise the air freight and the journey to the cemetery. Registration in Germany is the responsibility of the civil registry office at the last place of residence. German missions have discontinued the legalisation of Ghanaian documents; instead, a document verification is carried out at the request of a German authority.
- Death Certificateissued by the Births and Deaths Registry before the repatriation
- Medical certificateon the cause of death and freedom from infectious disease
- Body passport (Leichenpass) or transfer documentthe German Embassy in Accra can issue documents for the repatriation
- Passport of the deceasedfor export and registration in Germany
Good to know: funerals in Ghana
Among the Akan, for example in the Kwahu area and the Ashanti Region, the funeral is the central social event. It reflects the family's standing; many guests are catered for, there is music and matching mourning clothes. A well-attended funeral is considered an honour for the family. For this reason, the deceased often remain in a mortuary for several weeks until everything has been prepared. Family members abroad often ask for the burial to be postponed so that they can attend, and they bear a large share of the costs.
The place and the arrangements are usually decided by the extended family, among the Akan mainly by the maternal line (abusua). We schedule the repatriation around the date set by the family in Ghana. The documents are in English, Ghana's official language; a translation is generally not needed for the Ghanaian side. According to the German Embassy, cremation followed by an urn burial is also possible in Ghana.
Urn transfer to Ghana
For an urn, Ghanaian missions list considerably fewer documents than for a coffin: a certified death certificate, a cremation certificate and a firmly sealed container. Whether the urn can be carried as freight or in the luggage of an accompanying person depends on the airline. We clarify this before booking and have the documents confirmed by the embassy in Berlin.
More about urn transferFixed price for repatriation to Ghana
Tell us where the deceased is now. We check what Ghana requires and send you a written fixed price – free of charge and without obligation.
- Free and without obligation
- Written fixed price, no extra charges later
- Your data stays with us
- Request
- –
- Urgency
- Immediately
- Contact
- Phone call
Your enquiry goes directly to Rudolf Nordheimer. You will receive a written fixed price.
Frequently asked questions about Ghana
Your question isn’t here? Call us – we will answer right away.
All questionsAre there direct flights for repatriation to Accra?
We are not aware of any non-stop connection from Germany that we can confirm. A connecting flight is usual, for example via Brussels. We choose the connection based on cargo capacity and arrival time.
Which documents does Ghana require for the repatriation of a coffin?
Usually a certified death certificate, a burial or transfer permit, certificates confirming freedom from infectious diseases, proof of embalming and a copy of the passport. The coffin must be hermetically sealed. The embassy in Berlin confirms the documents; we request the current list in advance.
How long does it take to repatriate a deceased person from Ghana?
The German Embassy in Accra generally cites one to three weeks of preparation. If there is a police investigation, it can take longer. Only set the date of the burial once the transport details have been confirmed.
Why is the funeral in Ghana often held only weeks later?
In Ghana, funerals are major family events that have to be prepared and financed. The deceased therefore often remain in a mortuary for several weeks. For you, this means that the repatriation from Germany can usually be coordinated well with the family's date.
Do Ghanaian certificates need an apostille in Germany?
No, Ghana is not a party to the Apostille Convention. German missions abroad have stopped legalising Ghanaian documents. Instead, German authorities such as the civil registry office (Standesamt) can arrange for the documents to be verified.
Sources: German Embassy Accra: Deaths of German nationals in Ghana · German Federal Foreign Office: Ghana – travel and safety advice (as of 07.10.2026) · German Federal Foreign Office: Ghanaian missions in Germany · German Federal Foreign Office: Legalisation of documents – countries where legalisation has been suspended · Embassy of Ghana, Washington DC: Conveying a dead body to Ghana · German Federal Foreign Office: Consular assistance in the event of death · Sjaak van der Geest (2000): Funerals for the Living, African Studies Review
Information provided without guarantee, as of 10/2026. Requirements of authorities and airlines change; we check them for each case.
We are here for you now
Day and night, including weekends. One call is all it takes to get the repatriation under way.