High Court stops Daddy Lumba's funeral and blocks release of body

Accra, December, 12 - The accra high court ruling concerning the late Ghanaian highlife musician Charles Kwadwo Fosu (known as Daddy Lumba), who passed away on July 26, 2025, at age 60, was issued today (December 12, 2025) by the Accra High Court. This ruling addresses a family dispute over authority to organize his funeral, originally scheduled for December 13, 2025.

Key Details of the Ruling:

• Injunction Granted: The court granted an injunction sought by five maternal relatives (Obaapanyin Afia Adomah Pakoso, Robert Gyamfi, Georgina Gyamfi, Ernestina Fosuh, and Nana Afia Kobi Pakoso). This halts the planned funeral and blocks the release of Daddy Lumba's remains from Transitions Funeral Home.
• Rationale: The plaintiffs argue that, under Akan customary law, the maternal family holds primary authority over funeral rites and custody of the deceased's body. They expressed concerns that the body could be released without their consent, potentially undermining traditional practices.
• Financial Restrictions: The court ordered CAL Bank to freeze transactions from the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation account (used for funeral funding) without the maternal family's authorization. It also mandated separating all donated funeral funds from the foundation's general accounts.
• Next Steps: The first respondent (Kofi Owusu Abuakwa, representing the paternal side) must convene a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to negotiate and agree on a new burial date.

This decision follows yesterday's (December 11, 2025) adjournment of the hearing, where the court deferred its ruling to today at 10 a.m. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between paternal and maternal family factions, as well as questions about autopsy reports and donation management.Background on Related Prior Rulings:For context, an earlier ruling on November 28, 2025, by the Kumasi High Court (Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur) addressed spousal rights in a 74-page judgment. It declared both Akosua Serwaa Fosuh and Priscilla Ofori (Odo Broni) as lawful wives of Daddy Lumba, dismissing Akosua Serwaa's claim to be the sole widow entitled to perform rites. Legal experts praised this for its thoroughness and transparency.This funeral injunction is the latest development as of today, and further appeals or negotiations may follow.
GHBUSS