The Accra High Court has granted an injunction filed by the maternal family of the late musician Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, restraining the first respondent, Kofi Owusu—the family head (Abusuapanyin)—from organising his burial.
The ruling comes amid growing confusion and tension surrounding Daddy Lumba’s death and funeral arrangements, as family members have taken key individuals to court, alleging secrecy, mismanagement, and attempts to hijack the late musician’s memorial plans.
The court also barred the third respondent, Transitions Funeral Home, from releasing the body until the main case is fully resolved.
In its decision, the court observed that affidavits suggested the immediate family had been excluded from funeral arrangements and stressed the need to thoroughly examine the merits of the dispute.
While acknowledging that delaying the burial could lead to higher costs, the judge emphasised that due process and proper involvement of the immediate family must be upheld.
Although affirming that the family head traditionally has authority to lead funeral preparations, the court ruled that this authority must be exercised in consultation with the immediate family.
The first respondent has been ordered to convene a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to agree on a new burial date.
The court also directed that all funds raised for the funeral be kept separate from the accounts of the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation. The applicants were instructed to file an affidavit with the court registrar.
The recent Kumasi High Court ruling in the widely publicised case involving two alleged wives of Daddy Lumba has ignited legal, social, and diplomatic controversy. What should have been a private family matter between a recognised spouse and an alleged partner has now escalated into a national credibility issue, prompting calls for attention from the President of the Republic of Ghana.
Reports indicate that the judge rejected the marriage certificate presented by the wife, Akosua Serwaa—issued by German authorities—while seemingly accepting the position of the alleged mistress, Odo Broni, without equivalent documentary scrutiny.
