The Mortuaries and Funeral Facility Agency (MOFFA), the regulatory body overseeing Ghana’s death care industry, is set to administer its first-ever practical licensure examination by the end of the year. This initiative aims to formalize the sector and issue operational licenses to qualified facilities.
Currently, no funeral home in Ghana—whether government-owned or private—holds a valid license to operate. This situation prompted MOFFA to establish a training school at Pentecost University in Accra, with discussions underway to partner with other universities to expand training opportunities. Graduates of these programs will be required to demonstrate practical knowledge and minimal academic presentation as part of their qualifications.
A law to regulate the industry was enacted in 2011 but became operational only in 2019. The number of registered facilities increased to 125 by 2023; however, this figure does not represent the actual number of funeral homes in operation.
To address these gaps, a team of experts, including pathologists, doctors, and industry stakeholders, has developed globally accepted tools to standardize operations. About 40 certified MOFFA officers have already visited funeral homes to distribute and explain these tools, which are now mandatory for compliance.
Dr. Twerefour, a representative of MOFFA, explained the facility inspection process, stating: “The inspection is where a facility, having successfully gone through the registration process, submits itself for assessors from the Agency or its representatives to visit and check if the facility can be judged as ready to operate or can continue to operate if it is a pre-existing facility.”
Facilities failing to meet the requirements will have two months to address deficiencies or agree on a corrective timeline with MOFFA. Non-compliance may lead to shutdowns. Dr. Twerefour emphasized: “Because of the long period of compliance absence, we are prepared to give adequate time for all to come on board, after which we will begin to bite.”
In a broader move to professionalize the sector, MOFFA is collaborating with the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to construct a 1,000-capacity mortuary through a build-operate-transfer agreement with a private entity. The policy also aims to train pathologists and eliminate unqualified operators.
MOFFA’s Lead Investigator, Emmanuel Okyere, outlined the basic requirements for facilities, which include establishing advisory boards, strategic plans, performance audits, waste disposal systems, vaccination programs, and protocols for managing disease spread.
These efforts mark a significant step in regulating Ghana’s death care industry, ensuring professionalism, and enhancing safety for operators and the public.
