Winneba (C/R), May 13, GNA- Mr. Anthony Obeng, the Administrative Officer of the Winneba Government Hospital, has cautioned Ghanaians against using government hospital mortuaries as dumping place for dead bodies.

He said the practice was seriously affecting the operations of state hospital mortuaries in the country.

Mr. Obeng gave the warning when he led journalists to inspect the body of the late Thomas Dagba, been kept in the Winneba Government Hospital's Mortuary for nearly 10 months now.

According to the administrative officer, one Joshua Kpodi, a resident of Kasoa in Ewutu-Effutu-Senya District of the Central Region, deposited the body at the mortuary on September 12, 2006.

Mr. Obeng expressed regretted all efforts to trace Kpodi, including the use of his (Kpodi's) contact numbers had proved futile. He has therefore, appealed to the general public, particularly people living in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya district, to offer information, which could help the hospital authorities to trace Kpodi.

Mr. Obeng warned that the authorities might be compelled to dispose of the body, if they are not able to establish contact with Mr. Kpodi. 'Anyone who knows Joshua Kpodi or the deceased, Thomas Dagba, should please inform the family members to contact the Winneba Government Hospital Administration for identification and collection of the body", Mr. Obeng said.