Push for women to work in the mortuary – Boss to gender activists

The Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission(NLC) Mr Ofosu Asamoah has challenged gender activists who always seek gender balance, especially in government appointments to also encourage more Ghanaian women to work in the mortuary.

His call comes on the back of the revelation that 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 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.”

The Labour Commission Boss in an interview with Kasapa FM stated that gender activists must change the narrative wanting 30% of MPs and government appointees to be women, and also push for more female employment in the mortuary.

“In Ghanaian politics, you hear the gender activists pushing for 30% of MPs to be women, I’m waiting for the day when it will be said that 30% of mortuary workers should be women. I know the women will run away from this kind of job, but when it comes to appointments in government and choosing Parliamentary candidate there’s always a campaign to have more women getting positions.”

He added: “I always hear the women saying gender balance, but who wants to have gender balance in the work at the mortuary? gender activists never make such arguments. They leave only the men to do mortuary work. It tells you the special position these mortuary men occupy. We staff of the Labour Commission value their very difficult job and will continue to give them the needed support.”