The Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) has issued a warning to the government, stating that its members will embark on a nationwide strike in November if their long-standing grievances are not addressed.

MOWAG is demanding improvements in working conditions, including fair wages, a safer work environment, and adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for its members.

These issues, according to the Association, have remained unresolved since 2019, despite continuous appeals to the government.

Richard Kofi Jordan, the General Secretary of MOWAG, voiced the association’s frustration in an interview with Citi FM.

He accused the government of intentionally delaying the process by requesting unnecessary information from the association, which he claims is a tactic to stall negotiations without tackling the root of their grievances.

Despite numerous attempts to engage the government over the years, mortuary workers continue to work under hazardous conditions that threaten both their health and safety.

MOWAG asserts that the authorities’ lack of urgency in addressing these issues has made the situation untenable for its members.

Mr Jordan emphasised that, as a last resort, MOWAG members are now considering a strike to push the government into action.

He expressed hope that the warning would prompt authorities to finally address their demands to avoid disrupting essential services nationwide.

“We cannot strike in the middle of the month. So we are planning towards another week. It could be the end of this month, it could be the first week of next month [November], whichever it is, we will communicate the same to the public and then you understand."

“As I speak to you, the government has demanded certain data from us and we feel that it is a way to delay the process. They demanded certain data from us, which we are providing.

"But that is not enough for us to say that we are not going to embark on our strike. We will surely strike if what we are asking for is not met within this month," he said.