Forty-Eight Dead bodies would be disposed off as “unclaimed” by the authorities of the Ridge Government Hospital after today following the expiration of its two-week ultimatum to the prospective families.
After September 26, when the notice was given for prospective families to come and claim their bodies, only four out of the 52 bodies have been claimed from the facility.
A letter in the possession of the Daily Heritage written to the Accra Metro Public Health Director dated October 6, 2015 and signed by Emanuel Taadi, Head of Administration on behalf of the hospital read, “Request for Assistance to Dispose of Unclaimed Dead Bodies.”
It stated that, “there are 48 bodies in the Ridge Hospital Mortuary which no relatives have shown up to claim despite several efforts made to announce the death to the public.
“The management of the hospital would be most grateful if your outfit could assist to dispose of these bodies,” adding that, “The hospital shall provide all the needed logistics for the exercise.”
Speaking to the Daily Heritage at the hospital in Accra yesterday, the head of administration said the development has left activities in the morgue in a fix.
The bodies he said have been left unclaimed, leading to congestion, adding that the hospital is losing a lot of revenue in the process since the cost of preservation is very expensive.
“We are losing a lot of revenue because chemicals for the preservation of these bodies are very expensive. Ideally, the bodies should not have been kept here for more than two months, and because they don’t come for their bodies, the place has become congested and we don’t have a place for new bodies,” he explained.
The bodies he said have been left lying in the morgue between January and October, a total of 10 months. He told the paper that some of the bodies were also brought to the facility by the police and the relatives were unidentified while some also died unaccompanied.
He said the last time a similar mass burial was held at the hospital was in December 2014 but this one will be the biggest of all mass burials.
Giving the breakdown of the said unclaimed bodies, Mr. Taadi said, 10 of them are adults while 38 of them are babies who died as stillbirth. The oldest of the children was six days old.
38 still-births
The 38 dead bodies, mainly children are; Elizabeth Oko, Caroline Keita Kantorm, Rejoice Kumerdzie, Abigail Mensah, Makafui Agbenyeye, Janet Amegatse, Akua Agyeiwaa, Maame Esi and Catherine Tsibu.
Others include Ayisi Juliana Kwakyewaa, Elizabeth Ameko, Joana Boateng, Comfort Annamaa, Vida Entsie, Sarah Owusu, Patience Afful, Ruth Okechie, Florence Amoah, Evelyn Twumasi, Amata Boateng, Emilia Baidoo and Perdita Asare.
The rest are Felicia Obuobi, Dina Amoako, Bernice Pomaa, Juliet Mansah Sarquah, Patience Tettey, Ernestina Abiti, Vida Akomaa Dziwornu, Mary Laryea, Elizabeth Ocran, Patience Kumi, Mary Baidoo, Beatrice Larbi, Comfort Agyeiwaa, Beatrice Asare, Regina Afimoh and Jill Pyne.
10 Adults due for burial
Gladys Atube, 31 years, Kojo Antwi, 53 years, Daniel Obeng -31 years,
Emmanuel Akunnor-56 years, Adwoa Okailey-25 years, Obinna-40 years, Agya Owusu-38 years, Ernest Meyanu-32 years and Emmanuel Odame-60 years are all due for burial.
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