A disturbing incident in the Nkontompo neighborhood of the Western Region has sparked widespread anger among the youth and residents after mortuary attendants at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital reportedly refused to accept the body of a decomposed man.
The controversy began on Friday, 14 November 2025, when the body of a local man, known in the community as Uncle Kofi, alias “Alright,” was discovered in his room. Residents were initially alerted by a strong, foul odor that had pervaded the area, which they at first thought was from a decaying animal. Their fears were confirmed when they discovered Uncle Kofi’s lifeless body in an advanced state of decomposition.
Acting promptly, the deceased’s landlord, Samuel Kwofie, together with members of the Nkontompo Electoral Area Unit Committee, contacted the police. In a bid to preserve the remains while they located the next of kin, the group transported the body to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital morgue, expecting professional handling.
To the shock of the community, mortuary attendants reportedly refused to accept the body. The attendants cited the advanced state of decomposition and the overpowering stench as reasons for rejecting the remains. Consequently, the body was left in the open within the community, causing distress among residents and prompting widespread public outrage.
Following mounting pressure, the police returned to the scene, this time accompanied by officials from the Metropolitan Environmental Health Office, who were able to safely transport the body to the hospital morgue for proper storage.
In response to the public outcry, the hospital administration issued a statement through its Public Relations Officer, Christian Baidoo. He defended the actions of the mortuary staff, explaining that the remains were not prepared according to standard protocol. He emphasized that the community should have involved environmental health officers from the outset to ensure the safe handling of the decomposing body before bringing it to the mortuary.
The incident has reignited calls for clearer procedures on handling decomposed bodies and for increased collaboration between community members, police, and health officials to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Residents of Nkontompo have expressed their disappointment, urging authorities to review existing protocols and ensure that all deceased persons receive dignified and professional handling regardless of the state of decomposition.
