From La State Council to Court Issues: All you need to know about Lumba's funeral saga

Ghana lost a musical legend, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, on July 26, 2025.

The Highlife legend passed away at the Bank Hospital in Accra, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. His family confirmed that he was admitted days earlier and died at dawn.

In an official statement issued through their legal representatives, Baba Jamal & Associates, the family described Daddy Lumba as more than just a musician, pointing to his contributions to Ghanaian music and culture.

However, what should have been a period of mourning spiraled into months of legal disputes, family disagreements, and public controversies surrounding his funeral arrangements.

Lumba's funeral to take place after injunction applicants fail to pay GH¢2m compensation

One-Week observation sparks last-minute venue change

The second public gathering to honour Daddy Lumba, the one-week observation, was initially scheduled for August 30, 2025, at the University of Ghana Stadium. But just two days before the event, the family and management announced a sudden change of venue to Black Star Square (Independence Square).

This shift came after the La State Council reminded the organisers that noise-making around the University Stadium was prohibited until September 5, 2025.

First funeral date set

In October 2025, the family and management officially announced the final funeral rites for December 6, 2025, at Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. But the announcement became a source of contention.

The direct family of Daddy Lumba, led by his first wife, Akosua Serwaa, filed an injunction against the arrangements, claiming the funeral plans were made without their consent.

In a press statement issued on October 9, 2025, Akosua Serwaa described the public announcement as “deeply distressing,” noting that she first heard about it through social media.

Widowhood rites and legal battles

The issue of widowhood rites further intensified the conflict. Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu, head of Daddy Lumba’s extended family, initially said he recognised only Akosua Serwaa as the late musician’s wife.

However, he later acknowledged that Priscilla Ofori, commonly called Odo Broni, was also married to Daddy Lumba.

This led Akosua Serwaa to initiate legal action, seeking recognition as the sole surviving spouse entitled to perform widowhood rites at the funeral.

She filed a suit at the Kumasi High Court on October 3, 2025. However, the court ruled on November 28, 2025, that both women were legally recognised as surviving spouses after she failed to provide original copies of her marriage certificate.

Family disputes delay the funeral

After the court dismissed the injunction filed by Akosua Serwaa to halt the December 6 funeral, tensions within the family persisted.

Ernestina Fosu, Daddy Lumba’s sister, demanded that a postmortem be conducted to determine the cause of death before burial. She invoked the Otumfuo’s Great Oath (Ntam Kese) on Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu, alleging potential foul play.

This prompted the Manhyia Palace to intervene. In November 2025, the palace announced a postponement of the final funeral rites to December 13, 2025, and convened a meeting at the Otumfuo Saamanhene Palace to resolve the disputes.

A new funeral committee, chaired by Dadiesoabahene, was appointed to oversee the arrangements.

The immediate family seeks judicial intervention

In the days leading up to the rescheduled funeral, Daddy Lumba’s immediate family filed another lawsuit on December 4, 2025, to place an injunction on the funeral.

The plaintiffs, including Ernestina Fosu, Obaapanin Afia Adomah, Robert Gyamfi, Georgina Gyamfi, and Nana Afia Kobi, accused the extended family of secrecy, mismanagement, and attempting to hijack the funeral plans.

The Accra High Court granted the injunction in the early hours of December 12, 2025, restraining Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu from organising the burial and barred Transitions Funeral Home from releasing the body until the case was resolved.

Court clears the way for December 13 funeral

After hours of legal wrangling on December 12, 2025, the Accra High Court lifted the injunction, clearing the way for Daddy Lumba’s final funeral rites on December 13, 2025.

The court emphasised the need to consider the merits of the case but allowed preparations to continue after the applicants failed to meet a deadline to pay GH¢2 million into court.

With the legal hurdles removed, Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu collected Daddy Lumba’s mortal remains from Transition Funeral Home in Accra and transported it to Kumasi.

Preparations at Heroes Park in Kumasi were finalised, setting the stage for the nation to bid farewell to one of its most celebrated musical legends.

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