••
The Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA) has requested at least 20 additional personnel to bolster its monitoring of over 200 facilities across the country. Speaking during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on October 9, 2026, the Acting Deputy Registrar of MoFFA, Dr. Philip Sarpong, highlighted that the current workforce of 22 is insufficient to ensure that all morgues comply with health and safety standards. The agency emphasized that adequate supervision is crucial not only for regulatory compliance but also for the safety of mortuary attendants who face daily health risks.
Dr. Sarpong explained that the agency is struggling to manage regional operations due to the personnel shortage. Currently, MoFFA has licensed approximately 200 facilities nationwide. However, several major institutions, including the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, remain unlicensed because they have failed to meet the required safety and operational protocols. The committee members expressed concern that these gaps in licensing indicate a wider problem with facility standards and the agency's ability to enforce them without more boots on the ground.
The PAC hearing also brought to light the deteriorating state of many public hospital morgues, which are frequently overcrowded. Dr. Sarpong confirmed that many facilities are operating well beyond their intended storage capacity, leading to concerns about the dignified handling of deceased bodies. In response to a 2024 audit, MoFFA has developed new regulatory tools to address these gaps, stressing that the mismanagement of bodies can cause severe distress to families and pose significant public health risks.
To improve professional standards within the sector, MoFFA has begun implementing mandatory health and safety protocols and specialized training for staff. Dr. Sarpong noted that 176 mortuary attendants graduated from training programs this year. The PAC reiterated the need for strict minimum competency standards to be enforced across the board, ensuring that all facilities—regardless of their size—uphold the necessary medical and ethical standards for the treatment of the dead.