Families who relatives died as a result of the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic would not be allowed to bury their dead without the involvement of the state.
As of Monday, March 30, 2020 afternoon, the Ghana Health Service has confirmed that five persons have died of covid-19 in Ghana out of the 152 who tested positive for the virus. Two persons have so recovered.
Government has, at least, communicated to the family members of one of the dead that the body cannot be released to them, not even for private preservation.
“We regret to inform you that according to our Public Health Regulations, persons who died in such instances are strictly handled and buried by the State,” Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu told the family of someone who died after being infected with coronavirus on Friday, March 27, 2020 in Accra.
The family had written to the government through the Netherlands Embassy in Accra, who in turn wrote to the Health Ministry using the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
They had requested in a letter written on Saturday that the “mortal remains” of their beloved who died at the Ga East Municipal Hospital be transferred to a private mortuary facility.
But the Minister maintained in his response to them on the same day that “unfortunately we are unable to grant your request”.
Source: 3news.com | Ghana