Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has issued a stern warning to individuals and institutions whose practices undermine the dignity of the deceased, citing both health and ethical concerns.

In recent weeks, social media has been flooded with disturbing videos showing bodies laid in state while mourners engage in questionable activities around them.

One particular video captured a young man, allegedly an illegal miner, simulating “gold washing” with the deceased’s hand in muddy water, sparking public outrage.

Describing the trend as worrisome, the minister said such practices pose significant public health risks and violate cultural norms around death.

He tasked the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA) to enforce their mandate of inspecting and regulating mortuary facilities, ensuring they meet proper health standards.

"Define the end of life, bring order, honour, and humanity to this often neglected space. This is a space that we must watch. Even the way people are laid in states, buried, can further spread diseases. So we urge you, MoFFA, to go out there and to do the needful. You also have facilities to inspect, just like HEFRA," he said.

"Some of those facilities are not up to standard. Don't fear closing them down. If you fear people will mention your name, and then you cannot make any mark. Because the system has been this way for a very long time. So if you want to make that change, certainly you'll go through a lot. But be determined," he added.

MoFFA's mandate is outlined under Section 43(1) of the Health Institutions and Facilities Act, 2011 (Act 829), which states that no person may operate a facility without proper licensing.

The agency’s mission is to safeguard public health within the funeral and death care industry through impartial inspection, enforcement, licensing, and education.
It is also to ensure that all operations are conducted ethically and professionally.

SA/EB