The Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) has expressed serious concern over a sharp increase in the number of bodies being brought to mortuaries across the country.
This troubling development comes in the wake of the ongoing nationwide strike by members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
The strike began after a breakdown in negotiations with the government, which requested to delay the implementation of nurses’ new conditions of service—agreed in 2024—until 2026, a proposal the GRNMA has firmly rejected.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, the General Secretary of MOWAG, Richard Kofi Jordan, described the current situation as “alarming.”
“Looking at the number of deaths compared to the past, the death toll has increased significantly. It’s not surprising because of the absence of nurses,” he stated.
Mr. Jordan noted that mortuaries across the country are overwhelmed by the surge in deaths, many of which he said are being reported from homes rather than hospitals.
“People are dying everywhere. Wherever there is a morgue, they are recording high deaths—and we attribute this to the nurses not being at post,” he said. “Many people are not going to the hospital, and that’s why we are seeing more bodies being brought from homes.”
He revealed that the situation is putting immense pressure and stress on mortuary workers.
“If it gets to a point where we can’t take it anymore, we’ll have no option but to refer families to the police station. It’s a serious issue that should never have gotten to this point—it should have been prevented.”
Mr. Jordan called on authorities to act swiftly to resolve the impasse, warning that the situation is becoming increasingly dire.
Meanwhile, the striking nurses have vowed not to return to work until the government implements the agreed conditions of service.
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