The Okyenhene Osagyefo Ofori Panin II has issued a one-month ultimatum to families within the Akyem-Abuakwa state to retrieve bodies of relatives so as to free up space in various morgues within the jurisdiction.

He said the morgues are piling up with bodies because families are waiting for the ban on social gatherings to be lifted so they organise funerals for the departed relatives.

The Okyenhene said the situation is now posing health threats among the public hospitals.

“Families must appreciate that compliance with this order is in their own interest as reports indicate the state of the corpses is deteriorating.

"This will also avoid the unhealthy situation where corpses that are not retrieved before the stated period are buried in mass graves,” a statement signed by his State secretary, Ofori Atta read.

Since the directive by President Akufo-Addo for a ban on public gathering and strict adherence to social distancing, many Ghanaians have postponed the burial of dead relative although a private funeral with an attendance of 25 persons is permitted.

Morgues at the Pantang Hospital in Accra and Bono Regional Hospital have already reported congestion.

Health authorities have blamed this development on the alien nature of private burials in the Ghanaian culture.

The Police Hospital also released a statement announcing mass burial for some departed souls so as to free up space in its morgue.

But the situation continues to persist with more regions reporting similar fates.

But encouraging private burial among his people, the statement from the Okyenhene said these private burials that will be held will be done with supervision from the hospitals, health authorities, MMDCEs and the security services so as to ensure that all directives by President Akufo-Addo are followed.

Below is the statement from the Okyenhene