The planned funeral of highlife icon Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, has been thrown into further uncertainty after his immediate family filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, December 4, 2025, seeking to block all memorial activities until a full probe into donation funds and the cause of death is completed.
The suit, lodged at the Kumasi High Court, targets Abusuapanyin Kofi Owusu, the head of the extended family, and accuses him of mismanaging public contributions collected for the funeral rites.
Allegations of Financial Mismanagement
The family claims Owusu:
Formed a funeral committee without consultation
Deposited donations into a “Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation LBG” account at CalBank
Made unauthorized withdrawals totaling GH¢200,000 — in defiance of a November 21 court order freezing the account
“Owusu will continue to squander all the monies in the account, leaving nothing for the final funeral rites,” the plaintiffs stated in the writ.
They are seeking:
A court injunction restraining CalBank from releasing funds
A freeze on all memorial bank accounts
Postponement of the burial currently set for December 13, 2025, at Baba Yara Sports Stadium
The immediate family has proposed an alternative date of March 10, 2026, citing the need for:
Overseas relatives to return
Autopsy results to be finalized
Police investigations into Lumba’s death to proceed
Background of the Dispute
Lumba passed away on July 26, 2025, at age 60, at Bank Hospital in Accra. Since then, the family has been divided over:
Spousal rights (legal wife Akosua Serwaa Fosuh vs. customary wife Odo Broni/Priscilla Ofori Atta)
Cause of death (pending autopsy)
Funeral planning authority
On November 28, the court ruled both women as surviving spouses under Ghanaian law and upheld the December 13 date endorsed by Manhyia Palace. The immediate family has vowed to appeal.
Traditional vs. Legal Family Clash
Manhyia Palace and the extended family insist the December 13 date stands, arguing it honors Asante customs and public expectations.
However, the immediate family maintains that no burial should proceed until:
Funds are accounted for
Death circumstances are clarified
All legal heirs are consulted
Public Reaction
Fans have expressed heartbreak on social media:
“Let the legend rest in peace — not in courtrooms.”
“This is becoming a disgrace to his legacy.”
Evangelist Papa Shee, a longtime associate, has publicly opposed the December date, calling it “impossible” and demanding transparency.
The court is expected to hear the injunction motion urgently in the coming days.
Lumba’s children, led by daughter Charlyn Fosuh, have distanced themselves from the legal battles but continue to call for unity and truth.
