The Evangelical Church of Ghana (ECG) Hospital in Kpandai, Northern Region, has commissioned a new ultramodern mortuary facility valued at GH¢3 million, aimed at improving healthcare and mortuary services for the district and surrounding communities.
At the commissioning ceremony, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Joseph Sonlaar, said the facility would serve residents of Kpandai and neighbouring enclaves that previously had limited access to standard mortuary services.
He explained that the project forms part of the hospital’s long-term vision to strengthen health infrastructure and enhance service delivery in the area.
According to Dr Sonlaar, the mortuary is fitted with modern equipment to ensure the dignified preservation of bodies while easing the emotional and logistical burden families face during bereavement.
He also noted that the facility would create employment opportunities for young people in the district, contributing to local economic growth.
“This mortuary complex includes a temporary holding ward, taking into account the concerns of our Muslim brothers, a main mortuary with cold rooms divided into VIP and general sections, offices, bathrooms and water closets, a bathing and dressing area, and a proper septic drainage system to address public health concerns. I wish to assure the people of Kpandai that we will deliver quality services with the support of a competent and dedicated mortuary staff,” Dr Sonlaar said.
Despite the achievement, he raised concerns about the absence of a dedicated power transformer for the facility, which he described as crucial to its effective operation.
He appealed to politicians, corporate bodies, benevolent individuals and other stakeholders to assist the hospital in securing a transformer to guarantee an uninterrupted power supply.
Dr Sonlaar added that reliable electricity would help maintain high operational standards and ensure the full benefits of the mortuary are realised across the district.
The mortuary has a capacity of between 350 and 400 bodies. Dr Sonlaar disclosed that the project was financed mainly through the hospital’s internally generated funds, with significant support from 24 dedicated health workers who committed their salaries to the project after proposals for external funding and bank loans were unsuccessful.
The General Secretary of the Evangelical Church of Ghana and Guest of Honour at the event, Bishop James Aluruba, congratulated the hospital’s management for its foresight and commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure in Kpandai.
He described the mortuary as a timely intervention that would bring relief to families and communities within the district and beyond.
Bishop Aluruba commended the hospital for its consistent responsiveness to the needs of the people and urged continued support from government, political leaders and the wider community to ensure the facility’s sustainability. He also pledged the continued backing of the church council for the ECG Hospital in Kpandai.
The ceremony attracted traditional authorities, religious leaders, health professionals and community members, who praised the hospital for its ongoing efforts to improve healthcare delivery in the district and its surrounding areas.
