At just 24 years old, Ghanaian mortician Ewurabena Quartey has offered a rare glimpse into the realities of her unusual profession, shedding light on the practices and values that guide her daily work.
Speaking with BBC News Pidgin, Quartey, who also works as a hearse driver and resides within the mortuary premises, shared insights into life around the deceased and addressed one particular ritual that often raises questions.
Mortician explains the reason behind knocking before entering
During her conversation with BBC News Pidgin, Quartey discussed a long-standing practice observed by mortuary workers, knocking before stepping into rooms where bodies are kept, despite knowing there will be no response from inside.
According to her, the gesture is rooted in respect rather than expectation. She said the act serves as a way of honoring the dignity individuals possessed during their lifetime and ensuring that death does not strip them of that regard.
For Quartey, the passing of a person should never be used as justification for treating them without courtesy. She emphasized that respect remains important even after life has ended.
She claimed: “…In Ghana, we have this thing where you enter somebody’s house; before you enter, you knock, and there is response.
“When we knock on their doors (the dead), it is not to get response. No. We know they are not alive, we know they are not active; that is why we are knocking on the door.
“We are maintaining the respect they had whilst they were living. We don’t have to throw away their respect just because they are dead. No. We still maintain the respect.
“If you trip on them, you say, ‘sorry.’…”
Quartey further revealed that although she has never personally encountered a ghost during her years of work around the dead, she believes such entities exist.
Meanwhile, figures published by Data USA indicate that women now account for between 35% and 48% of licensed morticians, funeral directors, and undertakers across the United States.
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Here are some of the reactions from netizens:
Oluchi Friday Herrietta said: “If you don’t believe in fear nothing scares you, na we dey use our hand dey bring fear to our mind.
“See how she treats them like they’re alive and you still think say dem go disturb her, e no possible. You’re doing well.”
Olukomolafe Blessing Edidiong said: “She get mind o! Me, I can’t. I went into the mortuary when my late dad’s body was being preserved. The memories of what I saw is still fresh in my head up till now, even after years.”
Arji Amos Jw said: “The dead knows nothing everything about them has been forgotten so while you are alive anything your hands find doing do it with all pleasure ,because there no planing nor working no eating or toiling in a gravel where you are going.”
Braibo Meyor Newbros said: “And we have a Nigerian man who said he works in the mortuary and the ghost use to tell him that they want to go to the club and have fun.”
