High Court Halts Daddy Lumba’s Funeral Rites, Orders Family Meeting Amid Dispute
An Accra High Court has suspended the scheduled December 13, 2025, funeral of highlife legend Charles Kwadwo Fosu, known as Daddy Lumba, ruling in favor of his maternal family and blocking the release of his body until further notice.
The decision stems from a lawsuit by the applicants, who accused family head (Abusuapanyin) Kofi Owusu of sidelining them in planning the rites. Justice [Name not specified] emphasized that while the family head traditionally leads arrangements, it must involve immediate relatives, as affidavits showed exclusion.
The court acknowledged potential financial burdens from delays but deemed the concerns valid, issuing these orders:
Restraining Owusu from proceeding with burial until the main case resolves.
Prohibiting Transitions Funeral Home from releasing the body to any party.
Mandating a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to reschedule collectively.
Requiring separation of funeral funds from the late musician’s personal accounts.
Directing applicants to file a supporting affidavit with the registrar.
The case is adjourned to January 15, 2026. This follows earlier family tensions, including a Kumasi High Court declaring Akosua Serwaa and Odo Broni as Lumba’s legal wives, and principal members’ pleas to block the release.
The ruling ensures inclusive planning for the icon’s send-off, whose music defined Ghanaian highlife for decades.
