Public Accounts Committee decries overcrowding in public hospital morgues

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) expressed serious concern over the overcrowding and poor conditions in public hospital mortuaries across Ghana during a hearing on October 9, 2026. Based on an Auditor-General’s Performance Audit, the committee highlighted instances where facilities, including the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, were holding bodies far beyond their designed capacity. This situation has raised alarms regarding the dignified handling of the deceased and the potential risks to public health.

Dr. Philip Sarpong, representing the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA), acknowledged the overcrowding issues during the hearing. He informed the committee that since the 2024 audit, the agency has succeeded in licensing 200 facilities to ensure they meet basic operational requirements. However, three facilities remain unlicensed after failing to satisfy the necessary standards. The agency emphasized that while progress has been made in formalizing these facilities, the pressure on existing infrastructure remains a significant hurdle.

To improve oversight, MoFFA has requested an increase in its workforce. Dr. Sarpong noted that the agency currently operates with only 22 staff members to monitor over 200 facilities nationwide, a ratio that makes consistent compliance enforcement difficult. He appealed for at least 20 additional personnel to bolster regional operations and supervision. The agency also highlighted its efforts to establish occupational health and safety protocols for mortuary attendants, noting that 176 individuals have graduated from specialized training programs this year.

Committee members stressed the critical need for minimum competency standards to prevent errors in body identification and handling, which can cause immense distress to grieving families. The PAC urged MoFFA to prioritize these standards and improve monitoring to ensure that every mortuary in the country operates with the required level of professionalism and hygiene. The hearing concluded with a call for more robust investment in mortuary infrastructure to match the growing demand and maintain the dignity of the dead.