Korle Bu Mortuary: 320 unclaimed bodies set for mass burial

The management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has announced a planned mass burial for approximately 320 unclaimed bodies, as its mortuary has reached full capacity. 

In a press release issued on Monday, December 22, the hospital stated the action is necessary because the “Hospital Mortuary is currently congested and has reached full capacity.”

The hospital is urging relatives to come forward within a strict 21-day window. “Relatives, next of kin, or any persons with interest in any of the bodies are requested to contact the Management of KBTH within twenty-one (21) days of this notice, on or before 18th January 2026, to make the necessary arrangements,” the release directed. 

The exercise will be conducted “in accordance with approved procedures and relevant regulations” and in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.

This announcement highlights a persistent and grim challenge for Ghana’s largest referral hospital, which periodically must clear its mortuary facilities of unknown, unidentified, and unclaimed bodies. 

The significant figure of 320 bodies underscores the scale of the issue, often attributed to factors including unidentified accident victims, abandoned corpses, and families unable to afford burial costs.

The hospital’s management concluded the notice with an appeal “for public understanding and cooperation.”