The Mampong Akwapim Traditional council and Tetteh Quashie memorial hospital is appealing to families within Mampong to retrieve bodies of relatives so as to free up space in various morgues within the jurisdiction.
The Traditional Council is giving the bereaved families a month’s ultimatum to come for their dead bodies for a private burial, failure to do so will result in a mass burial to decongest the morgue.
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Speaking on Happy FM’s Epa Hoa Daben Show, Nana Yirenkyre, Manpong-Akwapim Apesemakahene said the morgues are piling up with bodies because families are waiting for the ban on social gatherings to be lifted so they organize funerals for the departed relatives but the morgue is full and needs decongestion.”
He added, “Together with the Management of the hospital we are giving families one month to come for their departed relatives or we will conduct mass burial.”
The Apesemekahene reiterated that “we are not in normal times so everyone should accept the President’s decision and adhere to social distancing protocols and ensure they have not more than 25 people at the funeral in line with the President’s directive.”
Since the directive by President Nana Akufo-Addo for a ban on public gathering and strict adherence to social distancing, many Ghanaians have postponed the burial of dead relative although a private funeral with an attendance of 25 persons is permitted.
Morgues at the Pantang Hospital in Accra and Bono Regional Hospital have already reported congestion.
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In a late broadcast yesterday, the President encouraged families to conduct private burials with not more than 25 mourners for their loved ones to decongest the mortuaries.
This he said is becoming a health hazard and could lead to the possible outbreak of diseases.