The Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency (MoFFA) has issued a one-week ultimatum to all mortuaries and funeral homes operating without licenses to regularize their activities or face immediate closure.

In a statement, the agency said several private and public mortuaries across the country continue to operate without the required authorization, in violation of Section 55 of the Health Institutions and Facilities Act, 2011 (Act 829).

MoFFA reminded operators that under the law, “a person who practices in a facility without registering as a practitioner or fails to license a facility commits an offence and is liable to the payment of a fine or the temporary or permanent closure of the facility.”

The agency emphasized that its directive applies to all facilities involved in the storage, transportation, and disposal of human remains, warning that enforcement actions will begin after the one-week grace period.

“All operators of facilities and practitioners are by this notice advised to take steps to regularize their operations or risk closure of their facilities,” the statement said.

MoFFA, established under Part Two of the Health Institutions and Facilities Act, is mandated to license, control, and regulate all mortuary and funeral service facilities in Ghana.

The move forms part of the agency’s efforts to ensure health and safety standards are met in the handling of human remains — an issue that has drawn public concern in recent years following reports of unregulated mortuary operations in parts of the country.