Several mortuary workers across Ghana have reportedly lost their lives due to a lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), a situation described as alarming by Francis Ennin, Registrar of the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency.
In response, the agency has launched a nationwide compliance exercise to inspect mortuaries and funeral facilities, ensuring they adhere to required operational standards.
During a recent visit to the Aowin Municipality in the Western North Region, a team led by Registrar Francis Ennin temporarily shut down the Enchi Government Hospital mortuary and Agyapa Funeral Home for multiple violations.
These included operating without valid licenses, employing unregistered morgue practitioners, maintaining unsanitary conditions, and using air conditioners instead of approved compressors for preservation.
The inspection team also raised concerns about morgue staff performing their duties without proper PPE. In Asankragwa, workers reported going nearly a week without protective gear.
Following the inspections, Registrar Ennin highlighted the rising number of deaths among mortuary workers, attributing the trend largely to inadequate protective equipment. He urged mortuary operators and facility managers to provide sufficient PPE for their staff and advised workers to always wear protective gear when handling corpses.
