Public Accounts Committee decries poor Conditions in Hospital Morgues.

The Public Accounts Committee recently criticized the poor conditions of hospital morgues in Ghana, raising concerns over the safe and dignified handling of deceased individuals. This issue was scrutinized during a hearing on October 9, 2026, when the Auditor-General's Performance Audit of the management of mortuary facilities in public hospitals was evaluated.

Dr. Philip Sarpong, the Acting Deputy Registrar of the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA), confirmed that some hospital mortuaries operate beyond their storage capacity, which is a cause for concern in Ghana's healthcare system.

The MoFFA has developed assessment tools based on international standards to regulate both public and private mortuaries since the 2024 audit. About 200 mortuaries have been licensed, with five of the eight facilities mentioned in the audit report obtaining licenses after meeting required standards. However, three facilities, including Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital and two northern locations, remain unlicensed due to not fully meeting the necessary standards.

These unlicensed facilities are still operating but have been directed to implement corrective measures and operate within certain limits.

The committee was alarmed by reports of overcrowding and unsafe conditions, with some mortuaries storing bodies on the floors. Examples of overcapacity include Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which held 826 bodies against its capacity of 457, and Amankyi Hospital, which held 45 bodies against its capacity of eight. Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital was reported to have 129 bodies, exceeding its capacity by 69.

The committee emphasized the importance of improved mortuary conditions, urging the agency to ensure safe and acceptable operating standards for deceased individuals, with proper facilities, adequate capacity, and effective management being crucial for dignified treatment of the dead.