The Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) has issued a stern warning to the government, stating that if their longstanding grievances remain unaddressed, they will initiate a nationwide strike in November.
MOWAG’s demands include better working conditions, fair wages, a safer work environment, and adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for its members. The association asserts that these issues have lingered since 2019, despite repeated appeals to the government for resolution.
Richard Kofi Jordan, the General Secretary of MOWAG, expressed the association’s frustration during an interview with Citi FM. He accused the government of deliberately stalling negotiations by requesting unnecessary information from the association, which he believes is a tactic to delay addressing the root of their grievances.
Mortuary workers continue to operate under hazardous conditions that jeopardize their health and safety, despite numerous attempts to engage with the government over the years. MOWAG claims that the government’s lack of urgency in resolving these issues has created an untenable situation for its members.
Mr. Jordan emphasized that MOWAG members are now considering a strike as a last resort to compel the government to take action. He hopes that this warning will encourage authorities to finally address their demands and prevent disruptions to essential services nationwide.
“We cannot strike in the middle of the month. We are planning for another week; it could be at the end of this month or the first week of next month [November]. We will communicate our decision to the public in due course,” he stated.
Jordan added, “The government has requested certain data from us, which we feel is an attempt to delay the process. We are providing this data, but it is not sufficient for us to call off our strike. We will definitely strike if our demands are not met within this month.”
