The Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) has decided to go on an indefinite strike, and award-winning Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has supported this decision.
He states that he is sensitive to the suffering of the employees since they are the most “underrated and underpaid”.
The rapper stated in a tweet on Friday, November 24, 2023, “They deserve the right salary, equipment and environment to work effectively … We can escape some services in life but this ….”
Mortuary workers, in Sarkodie’s opinion, have among the most “underrated and underpaid jobs yet one of the hardest and riskiest jobs.”
This will affect us heavy … 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 jobs. They deserve the right salary , equipment and environment to work effectively … We can… https://t.co/BZ1M2u8htV
— Sarkodie (@sarkodie) November 24, 2023
An indefinite nationwide strike by MOWAG is scheduled to start on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, and last until their issues are resolved. The notice was served on Monday.
The association has sent letters of intent to take industrial action to the following ministries: National Security, Finance, Employment and Labor Relations, Health, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and National Labour Commission.
In a letter dated Monday, November 20, and signed by its General Secretary, Richard Kofi Jordan, MOWAG stated that “all avenues to resolve our grievances have proven futile,” which is why they have decided to lay down their tools. The letter was addressed to the institutions mentioned above.
MOWAG further stated that the decision was made at a general meeting of its members and complies with the constitution’s Section 159 of Act 651(2003).
“Our position is that all mortuary workers in Ghana shall lay down their tools starting on Wednesday, 29th November, 2023, until all matters already in your domain are resolved. This is in exercise of our rights as the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana stipulates,” MOWAG’s letter read in part.
The letter is thought to be about poor service conditions, even though it did not address all of MOWAG’s unresolved issues, for which it has chosen to go on an indefinite strike.
It’s unclear if the state institutions in question have begun to communicate with the association in an effort to address their concerns and stop the planned strike.
In Ghana, one of the lowest paid job categories is mortuary laborers.
