Zongo Chiefs in Gomoa appealed to Ghana Health Service (GHS) to assist Muslims by immediately releasing their corpses for burial. Alhaji Sarki Abdullah Issaka Giwa who is also the ‘Head Chief within the Gomoa Zongo communities explained that it would enable families and the leadership of the Muslim community to fulfil one of the vital requirements of the Islamic faith.

Socio-Economically, the burden of mortuary fee payment and cost of autopsy could be avoided because sometimes the dead might not have relatives in the community who could foot the bill. Moreover, in line with Islamic teachings, “it is our responsibility to bury the person and perform other rites”, he added.

Alhaji Sarki Abdullah Issaka Giwa made the appeal in an interview with the media at his Gomoa residence after the Eid Fitr celebration together with the 15-member Council of Zongo Chiefs within the Gomoa Municipality. He expressed worry the duration of dead bodies at the mortuary; “our corpses are not supposed to be kept at the morgue for more than 12 hours not to talk of 24 hours because we have to ensure immediate burial in less than 24 hours”. Sarki Giwa pleaded with GHS to issue a directive to hospitals nationwide “to agree with us to release our corpses as soon as possible for speedy burial and funeral rites in accordance with Islamic teachings and values.

In his statement earlier, Sarki Giwa revealed that the Council formed 6 years ago (1) aims at uniting chiefs and opinion leaders in Zongo communities and promote peaceful co-existence among the dwellers. The community leader re-iterated on the need for the existence of such a body in every Zango across the country due to its multi-ethnic nature.
He concluded by stressing on the need to consult various stakeholders who might be willing to either assist in empowering or harnessing the potentials of the youth in the community.

Source: wadataonline.com/Issa Abubakar