Mortuary workers across Ghana are raising alarm over a disturbing rise in the number of bodies arriving at facilities nationwide, a trend they link directly to the ongoing strike by nurses and midwives.
The Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) says its members have witnessed a sharp increase in daily intakes, with some facilities now handling more than double their usual number of bodies.
Speaking to Citi News on Tuesday, June 10, Richard Kofi Jordan, General Secretary of MOWAG, described the situation as “alarming.”
“Looking at the number of deaths compared to the past, the toll has increased significantly. On average, where we used to record about 10 bodies a day, we are now seeing between 20 to 25,” he said. “It is not surprising. The absence of nurses is having a severe impact.”
The surge comes amid a nationwide industrial action by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), which began after talks with the government broke down. The dispute centres on the government’s proposal to postpone the implementation of improved conditions of service for nurses until 2026, a delay the union has rejected outright.
Health services across the country have been severely disrupted, with patients reporting difficulty accessing care and long queues at the few facilities still operating with minimal staff.
Mr Jordan says the implications are dire.
“These are people who might have survived if they had received timely care,” he added. “We’re not just storing more bodies, we’re seeing the human cost of a health system under pressure.”
Neither the Ministry of Health nor the GRNMA has commented on MOWAG’s claims, but public concern is growing over the impact of the strike on vulnerable patients.
