The families of two deceased fisherman from Tema have made it plain what they think should happen to their loved ones’ remains after autopsies and preservation.
The autopsy, according to the relatives, is not a key priority since they want to bury their loved one before to Homowo in August.
The fatalities, 44-year-old Samuel Akwei Allotey and 27-year-old Francis Tetteh, were two of the ten fishermen in the same canoe when it overturned in Tema after colliding with a boat.
Francis Tetteh’s relative, Richmond Amarh Annang, revealed this as the Tema Metropolitan Security Council (MESEC), led by the mayor Yohanne Amarh Ashitey, expressed sympathy to the grieving.
“Upon reaching the hospital, doctors suggested that autopsy be done as required but we are pleading with the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive to step in so the autopsy process does not impede our plans in any way.”
“Homowo is just around the corner and we wouldn’t want this process to become an impediment. There is no need to go through this knowing how it is likely to affect us. We want to bury our relatives before celebrating the festival,” he said.
Francis Tetteh’s wife gave birth a few days ago, but the deceased fisher has yet to meet his kid, according to information obtained by Joy News.
Nii Amarh Ashiboi, a different family member, talked on how the catastrophe at sea has damaged their traditional rituals.
“It is the first time in my 56 years of existence and even the entire history of our community regarding customary rites for Homowo that we have experienced this.
“It’s heartbreaking and this has really infuriated the youth. We are trying to calm their hearts. If the MCE and other stakeholders have taken charge, we want them to follow the due process to ensure the incident doesn’t repeat itself,” he advised.
Samuel Akwei Allotey’s aunt Nana Oye Ankama, 44, was unable to control her tears.
She claimed to have seen the tragic news on television and first struggled to accept it before receiving confirmation.
“I’m somewhat in disbelief. Samuel Akwei Allotey is the only child of my sister. The fishers were not at sea on their own accord. Elders asked them to go as part of Homowo preparations”
“A letter was earlier sent to the authorities due to the enforcement of the closed season. We want those behind this callous act to know that they’ve bitten more than they can chew,” she said.
Yohanne Amarh Ashitey, the chief executive of Tema Metropolitan, gave the grieving families the assurance that a committee had been established to look into the situation and assist in punishing anyone found to be accountable for the deaths of the two fishermen.
“We will visit the family again and are ready to assist in the preparation for the burial of the deceased fishers. We will also provide financial support in that regard,” he assured.
When visiting Nii Papaa Tse We in Tema New Town, women’s faces began to tear up when they saw how helpless their relatives appeared.