The Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA) in Ghana has called for additional staff to strengthen its monitoring of mortuary facilities across the country. This appeal was made during the Public Accounts Committee hearing on October 9, 2026, where challenges with personnel availability, overcrowding in mortuaries, and occupational standards were discussed. The Agency currently has 22 staff responsible for regulating over 200 mortuary facilities, making effective monitoring difficult.
According to Dr. Philip Sarpong, Acting Deputy Registrar of MoFFA, the Agency requires at least 20 more personnel to support its regional operations. To address the challenge, the Agency is working to decentralize its operations by establishing regional offices with support from the Ghana Health Service and the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency. This move aims to improve the monitoring of mortuary facilities and ensure compliance with operational standards.
Committee members raised concerns about the need for effective supervision of mortuary facilities, the safety of mortuary attendants, and the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE). In response, Dr. Sarpong stated that the Agency has established occupational health and safety protocols that facilities must follow before being licensed. These protocols include vaccination records, health and safety training, and proper waste disposal procedures.
The Agency conducts monthly compliance visits to ensure that licensed facilities meet the required standards. However, Dr. Sarpong acknowledged the challenge in monitoring a large number of mortuary facilities with the Agency's existing staff strength. To address this, the Agency has collaborated with universities to develop a curriculum for training programmes, which include an eight-week course offered by some institutions.
This year, about 176 mortuary attendants graduated from training programmes, which aim to improve professional standards and the quality of mortuary services. Attendants who complete these programmes receive certificates and are professionally licensed to operate. According to Dr. Sarpong, the training has resulted in improvements in compliance with operational protocols and standards at some facilities visited by the Agency.
Dr. Sarpong initially stated that there was no specific basic qualification for mortuary attendants, although a Junior High School certificate was expected for some. The Agency requires mortuary attendants to have prescribed protective equipment, including face masks, overalls, gloves, caps, and boots. The training programmes have contributed to enhancing the professionalism and competence of mortuary attendants.
The Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency's efforts to improve the monitoring of mortuary facilities and the training of mortuary attendants are ongoing. With additional staff, the Agency aims to effectively monitor compliance with operational standards and ensure the safety of mortuary attendants. The Agency's decentralization plans and collaborations with other health institutions are expected to enhance its regulatory functions.
Key points
- The Agency requires at least 20 more personnel to support its regional operations.
- About 176 mortuary attendants graduated from training programmes this year.
- The Agency conducts monthly unannounced and unscheduled compliance visits to ensure that licensed facilities continue to meet the required standards.
