Ghana mortuaries congested as people avoid private burials

Mortuaries in Ghana are congested as families shun private burials that have been necessitated by the ban on social gatherings aimed at controlling the spread of coronavirus.

Bereaved members of families say they would rather wait for the ban to be lifted so that they can hold elaborate funerals, according to media reports.

Morgue attendants say the mortuaries have never been as full as now.

The situation has overwhelmed some of the mortuaries like Pantang Hospital mortuary in the Greater Accra Region, whose management is quoted as saying that they will soon stop accepting bodies.

Nii Armah Worlo, whose brother died in February, told My Joy Online that he will wait for the ban on social gatherings to be lifted.

Emmanuel Akorh, whose mother died months, ago told German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle that he will wait until the ban is lifted as his family is not used to “private burials”.

Ghanaians culturally conduct elaborate burials that involve the appointment of a chief mourner who ensures the deceased is given a befitting send off.

Source: BBC