MoFFA Issues Strong Warning Against Unapproved Movement of Human Remains

The Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA) has issued a serious warning to the public urging Ghanaians to stop using private cars, taxis and unauthorized vehicles to transport human remains. According to the Agency, this growing practice is illegal, culturally offensive and dangerous to public health.

Speaking to journalists after a stakeholder engagement with mortuary staff in the Central, Western and Western North Regions, MoFFA’s Registrar Mr. Francis Ennin, emphasized that only licensed hearses are permitted by law to carry corpses from one location to another in Ghana.

It is both culturally inappropriate and illegal to transport corpses in unapproved vehicles, he said.
We are reminding the public that hearses are the only authorised means for conveying bodies.

Mr. Ennin referenced the Health Institutions and Facilities Act, 2011 (Act 829) which mandates MoFFA to regulate the handling and movement of corpses. He also cited Section 285 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), warning that anyone caught violating the directive could face arrest and prosecution.

The Agency expressed deep concern about the increasing cases where families use private pick-up trucks, taxis, ambulances or even motorcycles to carry deceased relatives especially during funerals. This, the Agency says, undermines the dignity of the dead and creates health risks for the public.

This is not just a legal issue it’s a matter of public decency and public health,” Mr. Ennin added.

To ensure compliance, MoFFA has vowed to collaborate with the police across the country to clamp down on this disturbing trend. Families, funeral organizers, and transport operators who ignore the directive will be dealt with according to the law.

The Agency also warned against the public display of corpses during funeral processions, describing it as unhygienic and disrespectful to Ghanaian cultural values.

Participants at the engagement in Western North Region praised MoFFA for the sensitization campaign and urged the Agency to extend such educational efforts to every region. They believe that many Ghanaians are unaware of the laws governing corpse transportation and funeral conduct.

MoFFA’s campaign is part of a broader effort to regulate the funeral industry, ensure public safety, and preserve cultural dignity when dealing with the deceased.