Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has responded to the notice issued by the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) regarding a potential strike next week if their concerns are not addressed.
Expressing his opinion, Sarkodie warned that if the government neglects the situation and allows the mortuary workers to proceed with the planned strike, it could have severe repercussions for the nation, especially considering the death rate.
Sarkodie emphasised that mortuary work, despite being one of the most underrated professions in the country, plays a vital role in ensuring that deceased individuals receive proper treatment before their burial.
Sarkodie called on the government to meet the demands of the Mortuary Workers Association and furnish them with the requisite equipment needed to discharge their duties effectively. “This will affect us heavily…
“Yes, I wouldn’t want a strike, especially from “them” but I understand… this is one of the underrated/underpaid jobs yet one of the hardest and riskiest. They deserve the right salary, equipment and environment to work effectively … We can escape some services in life but this,” he wrote on his X page.
His reaction comes after the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) served notice of an impending strike starting next week.
According to a letter addressed to four ministries and three state agencies, MOWAG said its intended action was in line with activating Section 159 of Act 651 (2003).
“Our position is that all Mortuary Workers in Ghana shall lay down their tools starting on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, until all matters already in your domain are resolved. “This is an exercise of rights, as the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana stipulates. You are respectfully notified,” the letter read in part.
The ministries that received notifications included Health, Employment and Labour Relations, National Security, and Finance.
Additionally, copies were sent to the Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission, and the Registrar of the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Authority.
The letter, signed by MOWAG General Secretary Richard Kofi Jordan, has garnered humorous and critical reactions since it was shared on the social media platform of media personality Serwaa Amihere.