AMA warns public against paying cemetery wardens for burial spaces

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has cautioned the general public to halt paying cemetery wardens for burial spaces, insisting the practice is "illegal".

Cemeteries in Accra are normally invaded by wardens who charge certain amounts before allowing for a body to be buried

Some even go as far as demanding for more money before they would cover up the graves.

However, the AMA has now revealed that it is wrong for cemetery wardens to take monies from the public before giving out spaces for burial.

The Assembly, however, clarified that its Public Health Department was the rightful place for payments concerning the allocation of cemetery spaces to be made.

A statement signed by the head of Public Affairs at the AMA, Nuumo Blafo III, on Tuesday, July 4 reads: "The attention of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has been drawn to illegal activities of some individuals at public cemeteries within the AMA.

“The AMA is reminding the general public that it is illegal for people who have gone to bury their corpse (dead) to make payments to the cemetery wardens (sextons) for the allocation of burial space.

“All payments concerning space in the AMA-managed cemeteries for burial are to be paid at the AMA Public Health Department at Adjabeng (adjacent Kingsway building) and not at the cemeteries.”

The AMA advised that "all burial permits should have a hologram and receipts of payment made available for verification before burial at the cemeteries",

adding that failure to go through the proper procedure may result in prosecution and subsequent removal of the buried corpse.