Health Agency Closes Sub-Standard Morgues Across Ashanti Region Over Safety Failures

Ghana's Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA) has taken decisive action to improve public health standards by shutting down several poorly-maintained morgue facilities across three municipalities in the Ashanti Region. The closures affect both public and private mortuaries in Asante Mampong, Effiduase and Juaben, following a comprehensive compliance inspection that exposed alarming operational failures.

During the inspection led by MoFFA's Acting Director Mavis Twumwaa Appiah, the compliance team uncovered serious breaches of health and safety protocols. Among the critical findings were bodies being stored on floors rather than appropriate surfaces, deteriorating and inadequately maintained equipment, and a complete absence of proper handwashing facilities for workers. These lapses pose significant public health risks, particularly concerning the potential for disease transmission in surrounding communities.

Beyond hygiene concerns, the investigation revealed that some facilities had been operating without the mandatory licences required under Ghana's Health Institutions and Facilities Act, 2011 (Act 829). This legal violation represents a fundamental failure in regulatory compliance and suggests long-standing oversight gaps in the sector.

Two-Year Warning Period Ignored

What makes this enforcement action particularly significant is that MoFFA had given these facilities considerable notice to remedy their shortcomings. Mrs Appiah confirmed that operators across the Ashanti Region received formal communication approximately two years ago outlining the specific standards they needed to meet. Despite this generous grace period, a number of facilities made minimal or no effort to upgrade their operations or secure proper licensing.

According to Mrs Appiah, the Agency will maintain the closure orders until affected operators demonstrate full compliance with required standards and successfully obtain their operational licences. This means families seeking funeral services in these areas may face disruptions and inconvenience while facilities undergo necessary upgrades.

Why It Matters for Ghana

This crackdown reflects growing attention to standards across Ghana's funeral and mortuary sector, which has historically operated with limited oversight. Mortuaries are critical infrastructure that directly impact public health, dignity of the deceased, and worker safety. When facilities fail to maintain basic standards—such as proper storage, hygiene and waste management—they become vectors for disease spread and compromise Ghana's broader health security.

The decision also sends a clear message that regulatory agencies are prepared to enforce compliance, not merely issue warnings. For Ghanaians using funeral services, this action should theoretically improve the quality and safety of mortuary facilities going forward. However, it also highlights systemic challenges: if facilities in a major region like Ashanti could ignore warnings for two years, similar problems likely exist elsewhere in the country.

The closure of unlicensed facilities is particularly important, as it prevents unregulated operators from circumventing health protocols. For workers in the mortuary sector, proper facilities and equipment are matters of occupational health and dignity. And for families managing grief during funerals, knowing that their loved ones are stored in hygienic, dignified conditions is a fundamental expectation.

MoFFA's action suggests the Agency intends to strengthen oversight across the sector. If sustained, these enforcement efforts could drive meaningful improvements in how Ghana manages post-mortem services, though success will depend on whether facilities actually invest in upgrades and whether the Agency maintains consistent monitoring.