The Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA) has closed down some public and private morgue facilities in the Ashanti Region for failing to meet required standards. The affected facilities are located in the Asante Mampong, Effiduase, and Juaben municipal areas. According to MoFFA, these facilities were operating under conditions that did not meet the required standards for preserving human remains.
A compliance team led by the Acting Director of MoFFA, Mrs. Mavis Twumwaa Appiah, inspected several facilities in the region, leading to the closure of some of them. The team found several basic challenges, including unkempt tools and equipment, and bodies lying on the floor. Additionally, there were no proper areas for workers to wash their hands after work.
The Agency also discovered that some facilities had not been licensed in accordance with the Health Institutions and Facilities Act, 2011, Act 829. As a result, MoFFA closed down these facilities until they meet the required standards. The enforcement exercise aims to protect public health and prevent possible disease outbreaks in communities where the facilities operate.
According to Mrs. Appiah, the main reason for shutting down these facilities is to prevent any outbreak in the community and in the houses around the morgues. The affected facilities were given notice about the requirements about two years ago but failed to comply. A letter was issued to the morgue facilities in the Ashanti Region to provide the requirements they needed to meet MoFFA's standards.
The closure of these facilities is part of MoFFA's efforts to ensure that morgue facilities in Ghana meet the required standards. The Agency is responsible for regulating and monitoring morgue facilities in the country. The exercise was carried out to prevent any potential health risks to the public.
The Ashanti Region has been experiencing various health challenges, and the closure of these facilities is expected to help prevent further health risks. The regional authorities have been working to improve the health sector in the region. The closure of the morgue facilities is a step towards achieving this goal.
MoFFA has urged the public to report any morgue facilities that do not meet the required standards. The Agency is committed to ensuring that morgue facilities in Ghana operate in a safe and healthy environment. The public can report any concerns to MoFFA to help prevent potential health risks.
Key points
- The Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency closed down several morgue facilities in the Ashanti Region due to poor standards.
- The affected facilities were operating under conditions that did not meet the required standards for preserving human remains.
- The closure of the facilities aims to protect public health and prevent possible disease outbreaks in communities where the facilities operate.
