The Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency has condemned inappropriate handling of a dead body at Asante Akyem in the Ashanti region.
This is in response to a viral video that surfaced online showing some young people in Asante Akyem mistreating a deceased person while following burial customs.
The Ministry of Health established the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (Act 829), an agency tasked with licencing, overseeing, and regulating all establishments related to the transportation, storage, and disposal of human remains. The agency has expressed opposition to the act in question.
The agency expressed its sadness at the deceased’s lack of decency and respect.
They denounce these heinous deeds because they go against the respect for seriousness and dignity.
According to Section 285 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960, Act 29, the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency asked the public to refrain from such acts since they are against public health principles and do not serve the best interests of public health and safety.
“A person who unlawfully hinders the burial of the dead body of a person or without lawful
authority disinters, dissects, or harms the dead body of a person, or being under a duty to cause the
dead body of a person to be buried, fails to perform that duty, commits a misdemeanor”. Punishable
by a fine or imprisonment.
The organisation stated that it is dedicated to collaborating closely with all relevant parties to advance honourable and appropriate funeral customs in Ghana.
They asked everyone to keep honouring and cherishing the memory of our lost loved ones and to report any such heinous crimes to the agency for prompt action.
Read full press release from Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency below: