One of the looted graves
Checks by the Environmental Health Directorate of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly revealed that over 30 graves have been tampered with or looted at the main Takoradi cemetery.
While some of the dead bodies were missing, others had their vital parts taken away. Residents in the area are currently living in fear after news of grave looting in one of the biggest cemeteries in Takoradi was broken.
In 2019, the late mayor of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Anthony Kurentsir Sam, closed the Takoradi cemetery after it reached its full capacity. Subsequently, residents in and around Takoradi were asked to bury their dead at the Ketan Road Cemetery, near Sekondi. The Environmental Health Director of the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Mr. Abdul Karim Hudu, remarked “The Takoradi cemetery is currently full and we have since asked residents not to bury dead bodies there again.”
He noted that since there are no activities at the cemetery of late, weeds have taken over the place with no security available. “I went there with my team to ascertain the extent of looting and it was bad. We counted over 30 graves that have been looted and we still do not know the people behind the act,” he stated.
He added that the Assembly has taken measures to stop the criminals from further looting of the cemetery. “We have contracted prisoners to weed the cemetery and we shall also hire the services of a security company to guard the place.
“We have also made arrangements to collect maintenance fees from families who have relatives buried at the cemetery. We still have the Sekondi public cemetery for burials,” he added.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi