Ghana has only three female mortuary workers - Mortuary workers secretary reveals

Working in the Mortuary which many consider one of the difficult jobs will for a long time remain a male-dominated occupation as Ghana can boast of only three female mortuary workers.

The General Secretary of the Mortuary Workers Union, Richard Kofi Jordan who made the revelation in an interview with sit-in-host Akwasi Nsiah on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa FM on Thursday said these three female workers were recruited not long ago.

“There are only three female mortuary workers in Ghana. We have two at Korle Bu and one at Apinto Hospital at Tarkwa (Government Hospital). There was one at Peki Government Hospital who had even proceeded on retirement but the due to lack of staff, she has been recalled and is working on contract. In total, our staff strength is almost 500.”

Meanwhile, Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana(MOWAG) has set May 02, 2019 to begin a nationwide strike. Ahead of that, they will stage a protest at the Obra Spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle on May 1, 2019.

This will be their third nationwide strike in less than twelve months.

In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Health(MoH) and sighted by Kasapa Fm, the mortuary workers say the industrial action has been necessitated by the supposed delay tactics employed by the government in the matter.

The group has given the MoH 31st April deadline, to reach out to them or go ahead with the strike.

This is despite the National Labour Commission(NLC) intervention, that invited the aggrieved Mortuary Workers for further deliberations ahead of the intended strike by the group.

Members of the Association, in March 2019, laid down their tools over low salaries and poor working conditions.

The strike was called off few days after the launch of the protest following a crucial meeting with the National Labour Commission that restored hope.

But the group still contends their demands have still not been met, hence the strike next month.