The Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA) has shut down the Enchi Government Hospital mortuary and the Agyapa Funeral Home in the Aowin Municipality of the Western Region.
This comes after inspections uncovered operational conditions considered unsafe for the preservation of human remains and the protection of staff and surrounding communities.
The action forms part of a nationwide monitoring exercise by the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency to assess operational standards, enforce regulatory compliance, and evaluate the state of mortuary infrastructure across the country.
ConnectNews’ Emmanuel Sowah reports that the monitoring and compliance team, led by the agency’s National Registrar, Francis Ennin, identified several operational irregularities during inspections at both facilities.
The team found that the Enchi Government Hospital mortuary and the Agyapa Funeral Home were operating without the required registration and licensing. The team also documented unsatisfactory disposal of wastewater, the absence of appropriate personal protective equipment for staff, the engagement of unregistered personnel, and operational environments considered unsuitable for facilities responsible for the storage and management of human remains.
Another technical concern cited during the inspection was the use of conventional air conditioners in cold rooms instead of mortuary-grade refrigeration compressors designed to maintain stable temperatures required for body preservation.
Where the two facilities fall below regulatory standards, the risks extend beyond operational inefficiency to potential environmental and occupational health hazards.
Improper disposal of wastewater from mortuary operations, for example, can expose nearby communities to biological contaminants, while inadequate protective equipment increases the risk of exposure for mortuary attendants who routinely handle bodies and biological materials.
The absence of regulated staff training and facility registration can also complicate oversight of hygiene protocols and operational safety standards.
Mortuary refrigeration systems are designed to maintain consistently low temperatures that slow decomposition. The use of non-specialised cooling systems such as standard air conditioners may not sustain the stable temperatures required for mortuary preservation, potentially affecting the rate at which decomposition occurs.
“Clearly, we cannot allow these facilities to keep operating. They are in serious breach of operational conditions. Therefore, we have closed them down for them to put in place measures befitting of a high compliance mortuary. What will happen is that they can keep bodies that are already in their possession but under no circumstance are they allowed to take new ones,” Francis Ennin said.
The agency directed the operators of both facilities to rectify the identified deficiencies and meet regulatory requirements before operations can resume. According to Mr. Ennin, the compliance exercise is intended to improve standards within the sector rather than shut down mortuary businesses.
The closure of the Agyapa Funeral Home and the Enchi Government Hospital mortuary takes away the only two known mortuary facilities serving the Aowin Municipality and the neighbouring Suaman District.
As a result, families who lose relatives in these areas will now have to transport bodies to facilities in other towns, including Asankragwa, Juaboso and Sefwi Wiawso, in order to preserve them pending burial.
By Eric Yaw Adjei
