Some family members who prepared to bury their deceased loved ones this week are stranded as the Mortuary Workers Union embarks on an indefinite strike over unmet demands.
A visit to government hospitals indicates that while the mortuary workers are absent, some non-union staff continue to work, leaving many families in distress.
At the Ho Teaching Hospital Mortuary, families expressed their frustration, lamenting the situation as they had made arrangements for burials this weekend.
General Secretary of the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG), Richard Jordan, revealed that every mortuary worker in the country is grappling with serious health issues, with approximately 30 dying annually from complications.
Mortuary attendants, particularly at the Kolebu Teaching Hospital, face severe conditions that have led to ailments ranging from kidney problems to chronic pain from heavy lifting.
“Everybody is sick at the mortuary,” Jordan emphasized, highlighting the dire working environment.
The strike has been prompted by ongoing grievances, including a lack of adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), unpaid salaries, and broken promises regarding bonuses.
