On Thursday, November 28, 2024, the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) formally declared that a statewide strike will start.
This ruling comes after authorities failed to address the association’s long-standing complaints.
MOWAG accused pertinent stakeholders of demonstrating a lack of commitment to resolving their problems in a statement titled “Notification of Intention to Resume Strike Action in Abeyance.”
On September 26, 2024, the association temporarily halted an earlier industrial action to facilitate negotiations, which is when the planned strike will take place.
“Despite our efforts to reach a mutually acceptable resolution, the issues that led to the initial strike remain unresolved. We have been left with no choice but to take this decision to protect the interest of our members,” the statement read.
Mortuary employees in public and private facilities nationwide have been directed by MOWAG to cease activities indefinitely as of November 28. Mortuary services across the country are anticipated to be disrupted by this move, which could have an impact on funeral plans and grieving families.
Poor working conditions, low pay, and a lack of resources to guarantee safe and effective operations are issues that the association has brought up time and time again. According to MOWAG, these issues jeopardize the standard of mortuary services in Ghana as well as the wellbeing of its members.
Despite declaring the strike, MOWAG’s leadership claims it is still amenable to discussion and calls on authorities to act quickly to break the deadlock.
“We hope that even at this late stage, we can still resolve our differences through open and productive discussions,” the statement added.
