Funeral cover in Ghana

What a funeral policy is

The NIC classes funeral policies with term life and credit life as pure risk policies: they provide only death benefits, with no savings or investment value, and premiums are lower because the policy pays only if the insured event occurs (NIC insurance products).

Who can be covered (yourself, a spouse, children, parents), the sum assured, the waiting period before a claim is accepted and the age limits are set by each insurer's policy. Ask for them in writing before you pay (NIC consumer education).

How the family claims

1. Tell the insurer of the death as soon as possible: most policies set a period for reporting (NIC consumer education).
2. Gather the policy number, the death certificate or burial permit, the claimant's Ghana Card and any document the claim form lists.
3. Fill in the claim form completely and truthfully, and keep a copy of everything you hand in.
4. If the claim is rejected, the insurer must give a written explanation citing the policy clause; if it is late, write to the insurer, then complain to the NIC (how to complain).

Funeral claims in the NIC's complaints

In 2024 the NIC recorded delayed funeral claims among the complaint reasons for Enterprise Life, Hollard Life, Metropolitan Life, MiLife, Pinnacle Life (formerly Donewell Life), Prudential Life, Sanlam Allianz Life, StarLife and Vanguard Life (NIC Annual Report 2024, Table 13). The report counts complaints per insurer, not funeral claims paid; see complaints by insurer.

Sources

1. NIC — Insurance products: generic descriptions of the classes sold in Ghana
2. NIC — Consumer education: your rights, before you buy, making a claim, resolving disputes
3. NIC — Annual Report on the Insurance Industry 2024 (complaints, claims and market figures for 2024)
4. NIC — Insurers (life and non-life): register of licensed entities, retrieved 31 October 2026