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The management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has announced plans to carry out a mass burial for about 320 unclaimed bodies after its mortuary reached full capacity, raising fresh concerns about the persistent challenge of unclaimed remains at Ghana’s premier referral facility.
In a press release issued on Monday, December 22, hospital authorities said the decision had become unavoidable due to severe congestion at the mortuary.
“The Hospital Mortuary is currently congested and has reached full capacity,” the statement said, explaining that the situation poses operational and public health challenges for the facility.
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KBTH has therefore issued a 21-day ultimatum to relatives, next of kin, or any persons with interest in the bodies to come forward and make burial arrangements.
“Relatives, next of kin, or any persons with interest in any of the bodies are requested to contact the Management of KBTH within twenty-one (21) days of this notice, on or before 18th January 2026, to make the necessary arrangements,” the hospital directed.
The hospital noted that if no claims are made within the stated period, the bodies will be buried in a mass burial exercise to be conducted in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and in line with approved procedures and relevant regulations.
This development once again draws attention to a long-standing problem faced by Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which periodically has to clear its mortuary of unclaimed, unidentified, and abandoned bodies to make space for new cases.
Hospital sources say the situation is often driven by a combination of factors, including unidentified accident victims, abandoned corpses, and families who are unable or unwilling to claim bodies due to financial constraints or social reasons.
The figure of 320 unclaimed bodies underscores the scale of the challenge, with implications not only for hospital operations but also for public health management in the capital.
Management of the hospital appealed to the public for understanding and cooperation, urging families to act promptly to avoid the mass burial of their relatives.
“We appeal for public understanding and cooperation as we take steps to manage this difficult but necessary exercise,” the statement concluded.
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