Court Halts Daddy Lumba’s Burial Plans; Orders Fresh Stakeholder Meeting

The Accra High Court has issued an injunction stopping the maternal family of the late musician, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, widely known as Daddy Lumba, from proceeding with his burial. The order restrains the first respondent, Kofi Owusu, the family head, from organising any funeral activities until the case is settled.

This ruling follows rising tension over the musician’s death and funeral arrangements. Relatives have dragged key figures to court, accusing them of secrecy, mismanagement, and attempts to take control of the memorial plans without proper involvement of the immediate family.

The court also barred Transitions Funeral Home from releasing the body until a final decision is made.

In its ruling, the court observed that the immediate family appeared to have been sidelined in the planning process. Although postponing the burial may increase costs, the judge stressed that proper consultation and due process must be followed.

While acknowledging that the family head holds traditional authority over funeral matters, the court stated that such authority must be exercised in consultation with the immediate family. It further directed the first respondent to convene a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to agree on a new burial date.

The court also instructed that all funds raised for the funeral be kept separate from accounts belonging to the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation. The applicants were ordered to file an affidavit with the court registrar.

This development comes on the heels of a recent ruling by the Kumasi High Court in a high profile case involving two women claiming to be the late musician’s spouses. The decision, which appeared to question the validity of a marriage certificate reportedly issued in Germany to the recognised wife, Akosua Serwaa, while seemingly favouring claims by the alleged partner, Odo Broni, has sparked wider legal and social debate.