Cemeteries are known to be the resting places for deceased beings and so are maintained well so living relations in times of anguish can sit by their lost loved one’s tombstone or grave and find solace without fear of reptiles, thieves or drug users.
However in Ghana’s case, a good number of our cemeteries are not maintained often leading to cemeteries being overgrown with weeds and infested with harmful animals. The exception being the Military Cemetery at Osu. Sadly,just next to the military one, which houses fallen soldiers, is the easily accessible Osu Public Cemetery which has virtually become a fecal sanctuary for persons who have no toilet at home to use the premises as their dumping ground. Aside the feces, residents continue to pour their solid waste or rubbish at the cemetery turning the place for the dead into an ugly site.
Some ill reared teenagers even use the tombs as beds to have sexual activities given they do not have their own rooms and are too young to experiment with sex any ways.
The disheartening thing about the Osu Public Cemetery is that it is situated in the vicinity of the International Press Center, Parliament House, Accra Sports Stadium and the well-kept Military Cemetery meaning tourist to the country who have no other knowledge of our rich history per the sighting of the Osu Cemetery could view as in a negative light despite our many good offerings.
Curiously no individual, chiefs or state agencies have intervened to bar the illicit activities and revert the house of the dead to its dignified state.
Residents say the situation has festered for about 6 years complaining about the fumes coming from the cemetery because of the burning of refuse. The effect is not making them have a pleasant stay in the area.
What is clear is that the situation at the Osu Cemetery cannot be allowed to fester. The residents need to realize irrespective of having toilet facilities at home or not the cemetery is no toilet yard to go and take a dump.
It should also be made clear that with a refuse container placed at vantage points or not, the house for deceased persons cannot become the easiest refuse dumping and burning site.
The central government must intervene, making sure refuse containers are placed at vantage points in the town and emptied regularly.
A campaign to sensitize residents should be effected by the Environment Ministry or any of the agencies under its wing.
After these, anyone found to dislodge shit or refuse at the cemetery should be fined or made to work to defray his or her debt.
Critically, the weeds must be cleared and street lights and wire mesh fitted to guard the cemetery so the dead can have their peace for it is ungodly for one to suffer in a life time and be tormented even after death.