The Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) has expressed deep concern over a surge in the number of bodies being brought to mortuaries across the country, a development they believe is linked directly to the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
The strike, which stems from stalled negotiations between the GRNMA and government, began after authorities proposed deferring the implementation of new service conditions for nurses until 2026—a delay the association has outrightly rejected.
Richard Kofi Jordan, General Secretary of MOWAG, spoke to Citi News on Tuesday, June 10, describing the current trend as troubling. He attributed the rise in deaths to the absence of nurses in healthcare facilities nationwide.
“Looking at the [number] of death[s] compared to the past and now, the death toll has increased significantly, and it is not surprising because of the impact of the nurse’s absencem,” he stated.
He noted that the increase in bodies being received at mortuaries has more than doubled in some areas.
“On average, where we are to record about 10 a day, we are recording about 20 to 25. This tells you that the absence of our nurses is becoming so severe,” Jordan added.
The current situation has heightened calls for urgent dialogue between government and health worker unions, as frontline healthcare remains severely impacted.
