The Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) has urged the public to accord mortuary workers the respect they deserve and refrain from publishing unverified, sensationalised content about their operations.

Ebenezer Toku Amankwa, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Association, made the appeal following the recent incident in which a vlogger secretly recorded a mortuary attendant transporting a body to the mortuary at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and posted the footage online without context. 

The widely shared video triggered severe public backlash, insults, and condemnation of mortuary staff.

According to Mr Amankwa, the individual responsible for the video was subsequently identified, invited to the association’s office, and pardoned after offering a formal apology.

In an interview with Kumasi FM's Elisha Adarkwah, Mr Amankwa stressed that mortuary practice is a critical, professional service requiring expertise and dignity. 

He rejected widespread public misconceptions that mortuary attendants are uneducated or unskilled, pointing out that the field has evolved into an academic discipline.

"Mortuary work is a professional job. People think mortuary workers are illiterate, but that is never true," Mr Amankwa stated.

"Right now, our members are pursuing certificates and degree programmes in mortuary science across various universities. We are upgrading ourselves, and you cannot look down upon us," he added.

He urged content creators and media organisations to verify information with official authorities before broadcasting materials that undermine their integrity.

"If you don't know anything about mortuary operations, come to our office and ask," he said, adding, "Don't just post things to disgrace our profession."

Beyond media circumspection, the Regional Chairman condemned degrading cultural practices observed during certain public funeral services, such as individuals carrying corpses on their shoulders or engaging in disrespectful displays with human remains.

Calling on traditional authorities, including chiefs, traditional leaders, and national policy leaders to intervene, Mr Amankwa advocated strict enforcement of standards to preserve the dignity of the deceased and public safety.

"We must give respect to dead bodies," he urged, stating, "We are all human beings serving this country. We have families, wives, and children. We deserve to be treated with dignity."