The strike by the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana is having a devastating impact on public mortuaries in the Ashanti Region, leaving families in a state of distress.
The strike is in protest of poor working conditions, inadequate salaries, and the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for mortuary workers.
The families waiting to take the bodies of their relatives at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital are among those stranded and demanding immediate action from the government.
"I'm worried about my mother's body. We've been waiting for hours, and we don't know when we'll be able to take her home," said a distraught family member.
The President of the Mortuary Workers Association in the Ashanti Region, Ebenezer Esillifi, has vowed the strike will continue until their demands are met.
"We will not resume work until our demands are fulfilled. We need better working conditions, improved salaries, and PPE to protect ourselves from the risks of contracting diseases," he said.
The strike has brought operations at government mortuaries in the region to a standstill, causing a backlog of bodies and putting a strain on the healthcare system. The situation is likely to worsen unless a resolution is reached soon.
The government has been urged to intervene and resolve the strike, which is having a devastating impact on families and the healthcare system.
Credit: Nana Yaw Boakye