Kingtom Ebola Burial Site in Disarray as Residents Cry Out

The section of Kingtom Cemetery where most Ebola victims were buried remains flooded, overgrown, and littered with waste, despite claims by the City Council that the site has been cleaned and improved.

A recent report by Truth Media shows that while the front part of the cemetery features a new fence, redesigned gate, and cleared pathways, the burial area remains neglected. Garbage litters the grounds, pools of stagnant water collect near graves, and thick grass and weeds have taken over.

Nearby residents say the problems worsen during the rainy season, when floodwaters from the cemetery spill into their homes, carrying foul smells and raising health concerns.

“This happens every rainy season,” one resident told Truth Media. “The water from the cemetery enters our compounds. We’ve complained for years, but no one listens. They only come when journalists visit.”

Kingtom Cemetery was created during the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak to bury hundreds of victims. For many families, it remains a sacred place. But for nearby residents, it has become a source of frustration and fear.

City officials maintain that cleanup work is ongoing. Georgiana Johnson, Deputy Environment and Sanitation Officer, said that clearing of overgrown grass, called brushing, was done in May and June and resumed in September. She explained that the grass grows quickly during the rainy season, partly due to human remains buried beneath the soil.

Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr said the cemetery has been “totally transformed,” citing the new fence, improved gate, and limited access to the site.

However, the Truth Media report indicates that only part of the cemetery has been maintained. The burial area, where most victims rest, still faces flooding, waste, and overgrowth.

The City Council says cleanup efforts will continue, but the condition of the burial area shows more work is needed to fully address the site’s problems.