The Mortuary and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA) has conducted a two-day enforcement operation in the Eastern Region, resulting in the partial closure of multiple mortuaries found operating without licences or failing to meet essential health, safety, and sanitation standards.
The exercise, aimed at protecting public health and maintaining the dignity of the deceased, revealed alarming conditions at several facilities.
At the Suhum Government Hospital mortuary, inspectors temporarily closed the facility after observing overcrowding, poor body arrangement, foul odours, and blood-stained floors. The mortuary, which has a capacity of 100 bodies, was flagged for severe non-compliance.
Adom Funeral Home Mortuary at Berekumaso, near Asamankese, was sanctioned for stagnant water, inadequate sanitation, lack of PPEs, and absence of a standby generator. The Great Consolidated Diamonds Ghana Limited (GCDGL) mortuary was found locked with staff unavailable, and the environment was reportedly unkempt and poorly maintained. The Asamankese Government Hospital mortuary was cited for similar sanitation breaches.
On the second day, the Kwahu Government Hospital mortuary in Atibie, though registered with MoFFA, was completely shut down after inspectors noted poor hygiene and discovered parts of the premises had been converted into a farming area.
MoFFA Registrar Francis Ennin said all affected facilities had been warned months earlier but failed to address the issues. He stressed that the enforcement focuses on waste disposal, sanitation, power and water supply, PPE availability, and proper handling of bodies.
“We are here to ensure compliance and safeguard the welfare of Ghanaians,” he said, warning that non-compliant operators will face surcharges and strict monitoring.
MoFFA has identified eight facilities for inspection in the Eastern Region and clarified that partially closed mortuaries cannot accept new bodies, though families may retrieve those already in storage.
The agency plans to extend the enforcement drive nationwide to curb unsafe mortuary practices, under its mandate established by the Health Institutions and Facilities Act 829.
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