Accra, May 11, GNA - Trespassers who have turned themselves as self-styled masons and gravediggers charging illegal fees at the Osu Cemetery have been ordered to quit or have themselves to blame. Alhaji Ahmed Annan, the Sexton-in-charge of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Cemeteries, told the Ghana News Agency at the Osu Cemetery that the activities of the self-styled masons and gravediggers had given rise to criminal activities including the desecration of graves and grave looting.

He said they have also allocated to themselves portions of the cemeteries and charged illegal fees ranging from 100,000 cedis to 300,000 cedis.

Alhaji Annan said the trespassers also direct mourners to bury their corpses at wrong places, creating confusion between mourners and the regular AMA staffs.

Mr Devine Dornu Sappor, AMA Health Officer-in-charge of Cemeteries, told the GNA that his office would put up stringent measures to arrest and prosecute anyone found loitering in the cemeteries without permission.

He advised the unsuspecting public not to pay any fees to unauthorised persons in any of the cemeteries in Accra but channel all enquiries to the Sextons. 13 May 05