Management of the Ghana Police Hospital has announced a mass burial for 300 unclaimed bodies deposited in the hospital’s morgue, slated for August 11, 2025.

In a statement signed by Public Affairs Officer C/Inspr. Faustina Afia Nunekpeku, the hospital noted that the unidentified and unclaimed bodies are made up of paupers, unknown former patients, abandoned dead bodies, and accident and crime victims.

“This solemn task is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that the deceased are laid to rest with dignity in line with public health guidelines,” a part of the statement issued read.

The hospital noted that the occurrence of such unclaimed bodies is a reminder of the importance of proper identification. It entreated all and sundry to be vigilant in safeguarding personal details, especially when traveling or engaging in daily activities.

In light of this, the Ghana Police Hospital has issued a number of preventive measures to avoid falling into the category of unknown deceased persons.

These include carrying an identification always. The police noted that regardless of age or location, one must have their national identification or that of any organization on them to help the police or others easily identify them whenever they are involved in any crisis.

Members of the general public have been entreated to share emergency contact information with close family and friends.

“These contacts can be used to reach out in case of a medical emergency or any unforeseen incident. For those who live alone, we advise keeping a list of emergency contact in easily accessible places,” the statement noted.

Also, the hospital urged the public to stay abreast of the legal and safety requirements in the country. The hospital stated that there is the need to “always keep updated on local guidelines regarding health, safety and public transport, particularly in rural or less-patrolled areas where emergency services may be delayed.”

Furthermore, the Ghana Police Hospital advocated for families and friends to make a collective effort to “maintain regular communication and keep records of loved ones whereabouts particularly the elderly, minors and individuals with mental health challenges who may be more vulnerable to disappearing without trace.”

“..we believe that this serves as a reminder to all of us about the importance of securing our identification and taking necessary precautions for our safety. We urge the general public to adhere to these messages to ensure their safety and prevent such unfortunate incident,” it added.

Management of the Ghana Police Hospital expressed sadness over its pending action; however, it emphasized the necessity of the mass burial.

Members of the general public have been informed to contact the pathology department of the police hospital for identification of persons who might not have been seen for some time.

“This is to avert a situation whereby such bodies are added to those earmarked for mass burial,” the hospital explained.

In the first quarter of 2025, the Police Hospital undertook a mass burial of some 200 unclaimed and unidentified bodies at the Police Hospital.

In a video, the Service explained that exercise was part of efforts to decongest the hospital and ensure proper maintenance of its storage unit. The deadline for the identification and collection of bodies was 28th February, 2025.

As such, members of the public were urged to check with the Police Hospital Pathology Department to identify and claim any missing or deceased relatives.

In February this year, the facility carried out a mass burial for some seven unclaimed bodies at the Very Important Personality (VIP) mortuary at Bogoso in the Western Region. These bodies had been deposited for some 20 months.

The remains included persons who were victims of vehicular accidents, those who had succumbed to crime-related injuries, and abandoned remains. The burial was held in spite of the numerous efforts made by the Police at Bogoso to identify the next of kin of these deceased.

The Ghana Police Hospital is not the only health facility that has carried out mass burials in recent times. Many health institutions have bemoaned the number of bodies unclaimed by families.

In April this year, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital undertook a mass burial for some 69 identified bodies that were yet to be claimed. These unclaimed bodies had remained in the mortuary for over nine months.

A three-week ultimatum was issued by the hospital for the bodies to be claimed. After this, a mass burial in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and its environment unit was carried out to decongest the mortuary and maintain public health standards.

In 2024, the Tema General Hospital in the Greater Accra Region held a mass burial for three unclaimed bodies that were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary for over a year.

The mortuary provides secure storage for deceased individuals until they are claimed by families or transferred for further procedures. It also ensures proper identification of bodies and maintaining detailed records to track all deceased individuals accurately and facilitates autopsies and post-mortem examinations in coordination with medical staff and relevant authorities.

The mortuary manages the process of releasing bodies to families or funeral services, ensuring all legal and procedural requirements are met. It also offers guidance and information to grieving families, respecting cultural and religious practices, and providing emotional support during a difficult time.

Mortuary workers have, in past and recent times, bemoaned poor working conditions and delays in the payment of salaries. A year ago, the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana threatened to embark on a strike action over lack of adequate protective equipment, salary arrears dating back to 2020, and COVID-19 bonuses. The association withdrew their services in November.

In May this year, the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana initiated negotiations with the incumbent government to address their numerous challenges.

The association in June engaged the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) over the concerns of the health workers. Per reports, the meeting, which saw representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and representatives of teaching hospitals, ended on a good note.

It is said that the Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Dr George Smith-Graham, assured the association of his commitment to collaborating with the relevant authorities to have their concerns addressed.