His statement comes days after the family unveiled Daddy Lumba’s final resting place, an event that drew an outpouring of love and support from fans.

Expressing heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming show of solidarity, Calvin thanked Ghanaians for standing with the family during one of the most difficult periods in their lives.

However, he made it clear that the family would no longer tolerate what he described as deliberate attempts to tarnish their name.

“I have to issue a warning to those who have chosen to spread falsehoods or tarnish the family’s name. Let this be clear, such actions will no longer go unanswered. A legal team has been instructed to deal with these matters through the appropriate channels,” he stated.

The warning comes amid ongoing public discussions and speculation surrounding the late music icon’s burial and family affairs.

One year on after the legend’s demise and burial, the public continues to debate about his surviving family, particularly his wives and estate.

Calvin’s statement signals a new approach by the family, indicating that any future misinformation or defamatory claims will be met with legal action rather than public exchanges.

Speaking on Hitz FM on Sunday, July 27, 2026, Ras Kuuku said there was no debate about Daddy Lumba’s status, insisting that anyone who disagreed did not truly understand music.

“Daddy Lumba is the greatest of all time. The GOAT of Ghana music, no doubt about that. Anyone who argues otherwise, then that person doesn’t know what he or she is talking about. To me, and those who love and understand music, we all know that Daddy Lumba is the GOAT,” he said.

The award-winning Reggae artiste praised the late musician for consistently producing timeless hit songs at a time when modern music technology and artificial intelligence were unavailable.

According to him, Daddy Lumba’s remarkable body of work is evidence of his exceptional talent and enduring influence on Ghanaian music.

“Way back when we had no AI and no technology to help musicians create their music, Daddy was there. He made sure that he gave us back-to-back hits. He was the main pillar, the inspirational pillar behind our fathers, mothers, uncles, sisters and nieces who were up there in Germany, Italy, France and other places. They looked up to him because of his music,” he stated.

Ras Kuuku said songs such as Meyɛ Aka Akwantumu, Sika, Me Mpaebo and Ankwanoma continue to resonate with audiences because of their quality and timeless appeal.

“When you listen to those songs, you get to know that, even in those times when there was no AI or internet to support music production, he made sure he delivered quality music. Till date, when you play his songs, even for hours, you get to understand that Daddy truly understood music,” he added.

The musician further credited Daddy Lumba with transforming the Ghanaian music industry and creating economic opportunities for many people, particularly owners of pubs, bars and entertainment venues where his music remains popular.

“He has shown so many people the way. It’s just that people are ungrateful. He has helped so many people. He has fed them and given Ghana music life. The reason is that when you go to drinking spots in Ghana and see the number of times they play Daddy’s songs, you realise that people make money from his music,” he said.

Ras Kuuku also reflected on his only personal encounter with the Highlife legend, revealing that although he had admired Daddy Lumba for many years, they first met when he was invited to perform at the musician’s 60th birthday celebration in September 2024.

According to him, he was recognised as one of the best performers at the event and was honoured when Daddy Lumba stood up three times to salute him during his performance.

“I have never met him in my personal life, face-to-face like this. On his 60th birthday, I was invited to perform, and they chose me as one of the best performers that night. I remember when I was performing, he got up three times and saluted me,” he recalled.

Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, passed away on July 26, 2025, at The Bank Hospital in Accra after a short illness. Widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most influential musicians, he left behind an extensive catalogue of Highlife classics and a legacy that continues to shape generations of artistes.

Daddy Lumba is the greatest of all time (GOAT) in Ghanaian music – @RasKuuku #DaybreakHitz pic.twitter.com/2KNNnIThFi

— Hitz 103.9 FM (@Hitz1039FM) July 27, 2026

READ ALSO:

Sarkodie pens emotional tribute to Daddy Lumba on first anniversary of his passing

Odo Broni unveils Daddy Lumba tattoo on first anniversary of his passing

In a heartfelt message shared on social media, the award-winning rapper recalled the moment he received the devastating news, saying it was one of the hardest moments he has experienced.

“A year ago today, we heard the heartbreaking news of your passing. I still remember vividly where I was when I received the news. It completely shattered me, and it was so difficult to believe,” he wrote.

Sarkodie also reflected on the personal relationship he shared with Daddy Lumba, saying he misses the encouraging text messages the legendary musician would occasionally send him.

“I miss your texts every now and then, telling me to keep pushing and reminding me how proud you were of me,” he said.

The rapper concluded his tribute by expressing how much Daddy Lumba is missed and prayed for his continued peace.

Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, passed away on July 26, 2025, at the age of 60 after a brief illness.

His first anniversary has been marked with tributes from family, friends, colleagues and fans, celebrating the remarkable legacy of one of Ghana’s greatest highlife musicians, whose music continues to inspire generations.

The tattoo, placed on her left arm, features an image of Daddy Lumba singing with a microphone, accompanied by the inscription “Forever in My Heart.”

Odo Broni revealed the tattoo during activities marking the first anniversary of the death of the music icon, a year after Ghana lost one of its most celebrated highlife musicians.

As part of the anniversary observance, Odo Broni, together with the children of the late musician, participated in traditional widowhood rites held in his honour.

Family members and close associates were present to show their support, while her brothers also paid their last respects to their late “Akonta”.

Daddy Lumba’s family has also outdoored his cousin to represent them in Odo Broni’s family as part of the traditional arrangements following his passing.

The highlife legend died on July 26, 2025, at The Bank Hospital in Accra after a brief illness at the age of 60.

His death brought an outpouring of grief from fans, musicians and public figures across Ghana and beyond, with tributes continuing to celebrate his decades-long contribution to Ghanaian music.

The private mausoleum, located within his East Legon residence in Accra, was unveiled during a remembrance ceremony held to mark the first anniversary of the highlife legend’s death.

The opening of the mausoleum confirms reports that the musician was buried inside his East Legon home, a detail that had been widely speculated since his passing.

The black tomb, decorated with photographs of Daddy Lumba, wreaths and personal tributes, sits within the compound of the house that became his final resting place.

Surrounded by some of his awards, plaques and works from his celebrated music career, the space reflects the legacy of an artiste whose influence stretched across generations.

Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, died on July 26, 2025, at The Bank Hospital in Accra at age 60 after a brief illness.

The highlife icon enjoyed a career spanning nearly four decades, releasing more than 30 albums and producing several songs that remain popular among music lovers.

His first anniversary has seen family, friends and fans reflect on his contribution to Ghanaian music and the lasting impact of his work.

Watch video below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rubben Dekyi (@dek360ghana)

The private commemoration brought together family members and close associates who gathered to remember the life and enduring legacy of one of Ghana’s most celebrated musical icons.

In attendance were his kinsmen, his sister, Faustina Fosu and widow, Odo Broni who were inconcollable.

For the first time since his passing, the family offered a glimpse of Daddy Lumba’s final resting place; a tomb located within the mausoleum of his East Legon home.

Surrounding his black tomb is the numerous awards, plaques and musical works that defined his nearly four-decade journey in Ghana’s music industry.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rubben Dekyi (@dek360ghana)

Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, passed away on July 26, 2025, at The Bank Hospital in Accra at the age of 60.

He died after a brief illness, though details about the exact nature of his condition were not publicly disclosed.

Widely regarded as one of Ghana’s greatest highlife musicians, Daddy Lumba left behind a rich catalogue spanning close to four decades, with more than 30 albums and countless hit songs.

A year after his passing, tributes continue to pour in for the man whose voice, melodies and storytelling cemented his status as a timeless figure in Ghanaian music history.

Speaking amid tears, she said it has been extremely difficult coping with his absence, stressing that although she accepts his death, the family deserves to know his final resting place in order to properly bid him farewell.

She lamented that, due to what she described as “public interference and agenda,” close family members have allegedly been denied access to information regarding his burial site.

According to her, the prolonged uncertainty has prevented the family from performing final rites, something she says is deeply important in their tradition and closure process.

She further expressed frustration that their concerns are often met with hostility when raised, insisting that the family is not seeking anything material but only the opportunity to visit his gravesite and say a proper goodbye.

The emotional plea has since sparked conversations among fans and the public, with many expressing sympathy and calling for unity and closure within the family.

Some families have been thrown into disagreements after the death of a family member as people fight over who has the right to do what or inherit what.

Some prominent figures in Ghana have not been spared from such disputes, as the entire nation was given front-row seats to their family’s ‘wars’ after their demise.

The questions are almost always the same: Who is the legitimate spouse? Who controls the burial rites? Who inherits the property? Who leads the institution the deceased built? And they tend to surface most explosively precisely when the stakes are highest.

Here are some personalities whose deaths have been marred by such disputes.

Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka

The founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana, Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, died in September 2025 but is yet to be buried after almost ten months. His death has triggered a bitter succession dispute that has escalated from internal disagreements to courtroom battles and, most recently, a shooting incident involving his daughter, who is a former Member of Parliament.

A few months before his death, Apostle Kwadwo Safo, who is also the founder of the Kantanka Group of Companies, named Adwoa Safo as the leader of the Kantanka Family, but no successor was named for the Kristo Asafo Mission, even though years prior he had mentioned in an interview that he was grooming his son, Israel Kwadwo Safo Jnr, to take over from him.

Over the weekend, Kwadwo Safo Jnr, widely known as Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, was installed as the new leader of the mission by some factions within the church — despite a court injunction against his installation.

A rival faction argues that although Apostle Kwadwo Safo had earlier named Kwadwo Safo Jnr as his successor under an older arrangement, changes made to the church’s constitution in 2024 altered the succession process, rendering him ineligible.

It was when family members say Adwoa Safo was trying to serve her brother the injunction that a shooting incident occurred, leaving her with an ear injury.

Amid all of this, the final funeral rites for Apostle Kwadwo Safo, revered in Ghana as a pioneering religious leader, inventor, and champion of local industry, are yet to take place. His burial has been announced for July 30, 2026, at Gomoa Mpota in the Central Region, with a national funeral service expected on July 31 at Independence Square in Accra.

But even that is disputed; a faction of the family insists no date has been officially set and that one will only be agreed upon after they are granted access to the body.

Charles Kwadwo Fosu (Daddy Lumba)

One of Ghana’s most celebrated highlife musicians, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, passed away on July 26, 2025, at the age of 60. His death triggered a nationwide outpouring of grief, but within months, a deeply public family war turned things sour.

The disputes were multiple and overlapping.

There was the question of who should lead the funeral, the extended family head or the immediate family. There was the question of which woman was his lawful wife. And there were serious financial allegations against those controlling the funds raised in his name.

A lawsuit filed by members of the musician’s immediate family accused the designated family head, Kofi Owusu, of secrecy, mismanagement, and attempting to hijack the memorial rites. The plaintiffs claimed they were deliberately excluded from critical decisions and lodged a formal complaint with the Homicide Division of the Ghana Police Service, demanding an investigation into the circumstances of his death.

Lumba’s German statutory marriage to added an international legal dimension to the dispute. His wife, Akosua Serwah Fosuh, held a statutory marriage from Germany contracted in 2004. However, the Fosu Royal Family argued that the marriage was no longer valid, claiming she had customarily dissolved it by presenting traditional drinks, and that a woman named Priscilla Ofori, better known as Odo Broni — who had lived with the musician for over 15 years and had six children with him — should be recognised as his wife.

The Manhyia Palace was drawn into the dispute, with the Asantehene’s traditional council dissolving the initial funeral committee and appointing a new one. The palace, however, publicly distanced itself from the dispute shortly after, highlighting the limits of traditional authority when faced with modern legal and financial structures.

The funeral which was originally scheduled for December 6, 2025, was postponed due to the ongoing disputes.

On December 12, 2025, the Accra High Court granted an injunction restraining the family head from proceeding with the burial, only to reverse its decision hours later when the applicants failed to pay a GH¢2 million deposit required to enforce the order within the set deadline.

Ghana’s music king was finally laid to rest at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Sturday, December 13, 2025, but with members of his immediate family and his first wife notably absent from the ceremony.

A subsequent attempt to hold a separate funeral for him was blocked by court, and the event was converted into a celebration of the first wife’s life instead.

Daasebre Gyamenah

In 2016, the burial of highlife musician Daasebre Gyamenah was delayed by a dispute between his maternal and paternal families over who had the right to bury him. The disagreement became more complicated when members of the Muslim community also laid claim to burial rights, citing reports that the musician had been a Muslim.

The matter was eventually referred to the Koforidua High Court for determination. After months of tension, both families agreed to settle out of court. The compromise allowed the maternal family to perform the burial rites, with the agreement that Daasebre would be buried in Anomabo.

The settlement finally cleared the way for his funeral.

Daasebre, who died in July 2026, was finally laid to rest in November that same year.

ALSO READ:

Kwadwo Akofena Safo, two others arrested over Adwoa Safo shooting incident

Adwoa Safo was targeted in coordinated attack – Family Spokesperson alleges

Latif Iddrisu vs. IGP trial: High Court orders continuation of case, rejects further adjournment for settlement talks

The ceremony recognised the legacies of actress Beverly Afaglo, Nigerian actor Alexx Ekubo, and veteran musician Daddy Lumba, highlighting their influence and achievements in the creative arts industry.

The moment brought together Ghanaian and Nigerian performers, alongside gospel musician Noble Nketsiah, for a coordinated stage performance in honour of the celebrated personalities.

The performance drew emotional reactions from the audience, with many describing it as a moving reminder of the contributions these figures have made to African entertainment.

Organisers said the tribute was designed to celebrate lives and careers that have left a lasting imprint on the industry, while also fostering unity among performers in a shared moment of recognition and appreciation.

Video below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zionfelix.com (@zionfelixdotcom)

Kenpong was flown out of the country to Germany earlier this week following a medical emergency.

Sources indicate that the highly respected businessman had been unwell and, on the advice of doctors in Ghana, opted for world-class medical care in Germany.

Upon learning of Kenpong’s ill health and hospitalisation in Germany, Akosua Serwaa, a longtime friend of the businessman, visited him to check on his condition and offer support.

A video circulating on social media shows Akosua Serwaa and Kenneth Agyepong, son of Kenpong, by his bedside at the hospital.

The visit highlights the very close relationship between Akosua Serwaa and Kenpong, who has remained a pillar of support for her since the passing of music icon Daddy Lumba.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Kenpong’s health has improved significantly, with expectations that he will make a full recovery in the coming days.

The ruling followed proceedings held on Thursday, May 14, during which the court approved the request for joinder, formally adding him to the suit.

Lawyers involved in the case explained that the court granted the application because of Kwabena Brefo’s new role as acting Abusuapanin of the Ekuona Royal Family, a position they argued makes him a necessary party for the court to better understand the issues before it and avoid possible bias in the proceedings.

Counsel further indicated that following the joinder, the legal team will seek the necessary orders to amend processes and officially serve the new Abusuapanin to enable him to file his defence.

The case has subsequently been adjourned to June 29, 2026, for further directions.

Kwabena Brefo, also known as Mr. Jones Kennedy Brefo, became acting head of the Ekuona Royal Family of Parkoso in the Ashanti Region in March 2026 following the customary removal of the previous family head, Victor Kofi Owusu Boahene, also known as Abusuapanyin Tupac.

His appointment was reportedly confirmed by the Chief of Parkoso and formally communicated to the family’s legal representatives as part of efforts to restore unity and provide new direction for the family after a period of internal disagreements.

As acting Abusuapanin, Brefo has also moved to discontinue an earlier High Court case originally filed by his predecessor against Akosua Serwaa Fosu and others.

The legal dispute is said to intersect with arrangements surrounding activities linked to the memorial and life celebration of late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, a development that has generated significant public interest.

According to reports, Brefo’s decision to seek the withdrawal of the earlier suit reflects his position that the case no longer represents the collective stance of the family.

Watch video below:

The award was received on his behalf by Abusuapanin Tupac, who stepped onto the stage to a wave of applause and reflection from industry players who rose to acknowledge the legacy being celebrated.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the most symbolic honours at the TGMA, reserved for artistes whose work has shaped generations and left a lasting imprint on the industry.

For Daddy Lumba, it served as a formal recognition of a catalogue that has defined highlife music for decades.

From timeless records that dominated radio airwaves to songs that continue to resonate across generations, Daddy Lumba’s influence has remained deeply embedded in Ghana’s musical identity.

His body of work has long been referenced as a benchmark for storytelling and even longevity in the industry.

Abusuapanin Tupac’s appearance to accept the award drew visible emotion from parts of the audience as the legacy of the late musician was reflected upon in real time.

The moment stood out as one of the most solemn and respectful segments of TGMA 27, shifting the atmosphere briefly from celebration to remembrance.

Watch video below:

A court injunction, filed by the Ekuona Royal Family of Parkoso and Nsuta, had stopped any gathering in the dead musician’s name. And so, in a moment that felt almost poetic in its defiance, organiser Papa Shee simply changed the fliers. The women had not come to mourn a legend. They had come, it turned out, to celebrate his first wife.

The Celebration of the Life of Akosua Serwaa came off that evening despite the legal storm around it, despite the University of Ghana management receiving a court order and formally asking the event to stop, despite everything. It proceeded anyway, and the women who showed up did so knowing full well the legal jeopardy involved. That is not devotion to a pop star. That is something older, angrier, and more urgent than fandom. That is solidarity.

Eight months after the death of Charles Kwadwo Fosu, the man the world knew as Daddy Lumba, Ghana has still not buried the conversation his passing started. And at the centre of that conversation, largely obscured by legal jargon and the noise of social media commentaries, are two women who deserve far more than the roles they have been assigned in this story.

Daddy Lumba died on 26 July 2025 at the Bank Hospital in Accra, aged 60, after what his family described as a short illness. Within hours, even as his music poured from every radio station in the country, even as tears fell from Accra to Kumasi, the private architecture of his life began to crack open in public. What spilled out was not a simple story of love. It was the story of what happens to women when a celebrated man refuses to make hard decisions while he is alive and leaves everyone else to live with the consequences after he is gone.

Priscilla Ofori, known publicly as Odo Broni, had lived with Daddy Lumba for fifteen of the last nineteen years of his life. She bore him six of his eleven children. She was there when his health declined, when the crowds thinned, when the glamour faded into the quieter reality of a sick man who needed care. By every measure of daily life, she was his partner.

She was also the woman who was publicly humiliated almost the moment his body was cold, when a radio presenter on DLFM, the station Daddy Lumba himself had built, went on air and dismissed Akosua Serwaa entirely, declaring Odo Broni the only wife that mattered. And when a gathering of dignitaries came to the family home to offer condolences, including former President Akufo-Addo, Daddy Lumba’s own manager introduced Akosua Serwaa as the musician’s “former wife” in front of people who had known both women’s names from his songs for decades.

And yet Odo Broni is the woman the internet largely decided to vilify.

Akosua Serwaa is the woman whose name Daddy Lumba wove into the fabric of his music with a tenderness that made millions feel they knew her personally.

He recorded “Makra Mo,” one of his most devastating songs, as a direct appeal to his siblings to care for his wife and children after his death. He sang about Yaa Tiwaa in “Me Mpaebo,” praying for her struggle with infertility with the intimacy of a man who considered this family his own. Fans who grew up with Daddy Lumba knew Akosua Serwaa’s name before they ever saw her face. Her name was embedded in his legacy the way a thread is embedded in cloth. You cannot remove it without unravelling everything.

Akosua Serwaa was also, by the account of music historians, the woman who made his career possible. When the young Charles Fosu and Nana Acheampong were trying to record what would become the groundbreaking debut Lumba Brothers album in Germany in 1989, it was Akosua Serwaa who came forward as producer and provided the financial backing that made it happen. Without her, there is a credible argument that there is no Daddy Lumba as Ghana knew him.

And yet when she arrived in Ghana after his death, it was to a legal battle. She did not stay at her late husband’s home. She went to businessman Kennedy Agyapong’s house to avoid the confrontation waiting for her at the East Legon property where Odo Broni lived, where the machinery of his estate hummed along under someone else’s hand. She went to court in October 2025, asking to be declared his sole surviving legal spouse, arguing that the civil marriage she contracted with him in Bornheim, Germany in 2004 made any subsequent customary union legally void. Her legal team could not produce the original marriage certificate. The court, presiding judge Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur, ruled in November 2025 that both she and Odo Broni were recognised as surviving wives and both were entitled to perform widowhood rites.

It was the kind of ruling that satisfied no one and left both women in the peculiar position of sharing a grief that neither could fully claim in public without the other contesting it.

Ghana’s social media did not respond with nuance. It divided, loudly and bitterly, into two camps that mostly but not exclusively split along the lines of who you believed was the “real” wife. Team Legal Wives rallied behind Akosua Serwaa with a fervour that was partly about her and partly about something much larger: the collective fury of women who have watched men build their most public declarations of love on a woman’s foundation and then quietly replace her. Team Odo Broni pointed to fifteen years of physical presence, to the children, to the woman who was there at the end. The argument on both sides sometimes descended into a viciousness that was uncomfortable to watch, women tearing into other women over the choices of a man who made no will, left no clear instruction, and is not here to answer for any of it.

That last point is the one that cuts through everything else. Daddy Lumba died allegedly without a registered will despite an estate that includes DLFM radio, property in East Legon, and a catalogue of recordings that will generate royalties for decades. He had eleven children across four women. He had two marriages, one potentially civil and one customary, whose legal relationship to each other he never formally resolved. He left two women who loved him, in different ways and across different decades of his life, to fight over his memory in court and on the internet while strangers voted on who deserved to mourn him.

The December funeral in Kumasi came off on 13 December 2025, itself preceded by a court injunction the day before that was reversed at the last moment. Akosua Serwaa and Daddy Lumba’s eldest sister Akosua Brepomaa were not in attendance. His children by Akosua Serwaa, Calvin, Charlyn and Ciara, did travel to Ghana to pay their respects, separating their grief from their mother’s legal battle with a dignity that was quietly remarkable. The estate remains in litigation. The letters of administration case continues. And as of this week, even the Celebration of Life that was meant to give Akosua Serwaa’s side of the family a moment of closure has been wrapped in fresh injunctions, counterclaims and court notices.

There is a conversation that Ghanaians are still reluctant to have about all of this. It is not a conversation about which wife was more legitimate, or about the complexities of Asante customary law, though both matter. It is a simpler, harder conversation about what we owe the people we love when we are still alive to show it. A man can be a genius and still be negligent. A man can sing about devotion with a lyrical precision that moves a nation to tears and still fail, catastrophically, at the private acts of care that protect the people who depended on him. Daddy Lumba asked in “Makra Mo” that his siblings care for his wife and children when he was gone. He did not leave a will to back that request up.

Both Akosua Serwaa and Odo Broni are survivors of a situation they did not design. One built the foundation. One kept the lights on. Neither of them is a cautionary tale. They are both women who gave significant portions of their lives to the same man, who are now fighting over what remains of that investment in public, with strangers issuing verdicts on their worth from the comfort of a phone screen.

The women who gathered at the University of Ghana Stadium on Saturday evening, who showed up despite court orders and institutional warnings and the general chaos of it all, were not naive. They understood what they were doing. They were saying, collectively, that Akosua Serwaa’s story deserves to be heard in a space larger than a courtroom. That a woman who helped build a musical legacy deserves more than to be airbrushed out of it by a radio announcement the week her husband died.

The melody still plays. But Ghana is slowly, and painfully, beginning to reckon with the silence behind it.

Bridget Mensah is a PR, Marketing & Communications professional and General Secretary of the Network of Women in Broadcasting (NOWIB). A dedicated feminist and advocate for women in media, she champions workplace excellence whilst empowering voices and building bridges across the industry. Bridget is passionate about amplifying women’s stories and driving positive change in Ghana’s media. She can be reached via email at mbridget634@gmail.com

The order follows an application filed by the Head of Family of the Ekuona Royal Family of Parkoso and Nsuta, Abusuapanin Victor Kofi Owusu, popularly known as Abusuapanin Tupac.

A statement issued by Baba Jamal & Associates explained that the court order specifically bars Nana Yaw Akosa (aka Papa Shee), Akosua Serwaa Schindler (Fosuh), Ernestina Fosuh (Brempoma), Wofa Yaw Poku, and their agents from organising, promoting, or hosting the event.

The statement emphasised that the injunction effectively halts any attempt to proceed with the programme in any form.

“By upholding this injunction, the Court totally prohibits any attempt to proceed with the celebration of life or any such event,” the statement noted.

It further warned that organisers, venue providers, and participants risk legal consequences if they disregard the directive.

“Organisers, venue providers, and active participants are hereby cautioned that defying this order constitutes contempt of court, which is punishable by law,” it added.

The legal representatives also signalled their readiness to pursue further action against any breaches.

“We shall not hesitate to initiate committal proceedings against any individual who seeks to undermine the authority of the Court.”

The statement concluded with a call for calm and sensitivity.

“We call for peace and respect for the family and the children at this moment.”

ALSO READ:

• Whether or not Daddy Lumba left a will – Abuasuapanyin breaks silence

• Court adjourns injunction suit against Daddy Lumba’s memorial event

Read the full statement below:

The injunction application was filed by Abusuapanyin Kofi Owusu, popularly known as Abusuapanyin Tupac, who is seeking to stop the event.

After Wednesday’s proceedings, counsel for the respondents, Stephen Nsia Opoku, told the media that the adjournment was to allow the court more time to consider the customs involved and the applicable law.

He said the court will reconvene on April 23, 2026, to continue hearing the case and determine the merits of the application.

Lawyer Opoku further noted that the judge indicated that if the case is found to lack merit, the respondents would be awarded appropriate compensation.

The event, dubbed “Celebration of the Life of Daddy Lumba,” is scheduled for March 28 and March 29, 2026, in Accra.

It is expected to be attended by members of the late musician’s immediate family, who were reportedly dissatisfied with the funeral held in December 2025 by Abusuapanyin Kofi Owusu. These include his sister, Ernestina Fosuh; his first wife, Akosua Serwaa Fosuh; and other members of the “Team Legal Wives” faction.

ALSO READ:

• Daddy Lumba’s family head summoned over burial controversy

• Massive crowd welcome Akosua Serwaa to Ghana ahead of Lumba’s celebration [Video]

The arrival was marked by scenes of joy and deep emotion, as family members, close associates, and fans assembled to receive her.

Among those present were Akosua Bempomaa, the musician’s grandmother, as well as other relatives, including members of Lumba’s maternal family, all united in anticipation of the event.

Akosua Serwaa was also received by veteran gospel musician Papa Shee, who has since been her cheerleader.

The celebration of life is scheduled to take place on March 28 and 29, 2026. The event forms part of funeral rites from the maternal side of the family, following earlier burial arrangements that did not fully involve that lineage.

In honour of the late icon, specially designed “Celebration of Life” attire has been unveiled under the theme “Wo do nti Nyame nhyira wo.” The design features a dove set against a love-themed background, symbolising peace, affection, and the lasting influence of Daddy Lumba’s music across generations.

Despite a series of injunction applications reportedly filed at the Accra High Court by former family head Abusuapanyin Tupac Fosu, organisers have indicated that the event will proceed as planned.

Daddy Lumba, widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most influential highlife musicians, left behind a rich musical legacy that continues to resonate both locally and internationally.

Watch video below:

Since the passing of Ghana’s music icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, known to the world as Daddy Lumba, Ghanaians have been confronted with a national spectacle of admiration on one side and controversy on the other. While millions continue to celebrate his unforgettable legacy in music and entertainment, others are deeply unsettled by the unfolding chaos surrounding his widowhood rites, funeral arrangements, and now the alarming plan to bury him inside his East Legon residence.

The dispute between the rightful wife, Maami Akosua Serwaa, and the self-acclaimed second partner, Odo Broni, has already created enough tension in the courts and across the nation. Yet what is emerging now threatens not only the dignity of the deceased but also the very foundation of Ga tradition, public health, and the integrity of the justice system.

A LEGAL BATTLE STILL BEFORE THE COURTS

Following the controversial Kumasi High Court ruling instructing both women to perform widowhood rites, an appeal has been filed, meaning the matter remains active in the judicial system. As long as this appeal is pending, any funeral, burial, or widowhood activity conducted without explicit court permission constitutes contempt of court.

This is not speculation. It is the law.

And yet, the family head of the late musician Abusuapanyin Kofi Owusu has publicly indicated his intention to bury Daddy Lumba inside his East Legon house. This announcement suggests not only disregard for the authority of the court but a readiness to violate the very laws that govern our republic.

GA TRADITION IS CLEAR: HOMES ARE NOT CEMETERIES

Even more worrying is the cultural violation looming beneath this entire plot.
The Ga state, with centuries of rich tradition, has always been clear about the burial of the dead:

• The dead are not buried in private homes.
• The dead are buried in designated cemeteries or royal mausoleums.

This is why the late Ga Mantse, Nii Boni Amugi, was buried respectfully in the royal mausoleum.
This is why the late Ga Manye, Naa Dedei Omandro, was laid to rest in the royal mausoleum following strict traditional protocols.

Ordinary Ga citizens, respected elders, chiefs, queen mothers, and cultural custodians are all buried in cemeteries, not living-room compounds, not private gardens, not behind kitchens, and not in luxury mansions.

So, the question must be asked, loudly and publicly:

Why should Daddy Lumba’s family violate Ga cultural standards?
Why should East Legon become a private graveyard?
Why should a cultural taboo be allowed simply because the deceased is famous?

The Ga Traditional Council cannot afford silence at this critical moment. Tradition is not tradition if it only applies selectively.

A MATTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

Beyond tradition lies an equally important concern: public health.

Modern public health standards discourage and, in many cases, prohibit the burial of bodies in residential areas. The concerns are clear:

• Soil contamination
• Groundwater pollution
• Environmental health hazards
• Risks to neighbouring households

What happens today at East Legon could become a dangerous precedent tomorrow:

If Daddy Lumba can be buried in his house, what stops hundreds of others from doing the same?
Will wealthy families now convert gated estates into private cemeteries?
Will East Legon, Trassaco, Cantonments, and Airport Residential become burial grounds?

This is not only unacceptable, but it is also dangerous.

GA TRADITIONAL COUNCIL: LEAD NOW OR LOSE AUTHORITY

The Ga Traditional Authority is not just a cultural symbol; it is the custodian and regulator of tradition, land, and practice within the Greater Accra Region.

Yet at this critical moment, it appears silent, dangerously silent.

Silence now will send the wrong message.
Silence now will embolden impunity.
Silence now will undermine the authority of the Council.

The Ga Traditional Council must rise and publicly prohibit any attempt to bury Daddy Lumba in his East Legon home. The following reasons make such action mandatory:

1. It will constitute contempt of court since the matter is before the Appeals Court.
2. It will violate the Ga burial customs and traditions.
3. It poses a serious public health risk.
4. It will set a dangerous precedent for future unlawful burials within the capital.
5. It undermines justice and traditional authority simultaneously.

A CALL TO ACTION

This is not a trivial matter.
This is not a family dispute.
This is not celebrity drama.

This is about the rule of law, the sanctity of tradition, public health, and the cultural identity of the Ga people.

Accra is not a cemetery.
East Legon is not a burial ground.
And Daddy Lumba’s legacy must not be tainted by illegality.

CONCLUSION

The Ga Traditional Council must act now.
Issue a public directive.
Prohibit the illegal burial.
Protect tradition.
Defend the law.
Safeguard public health.

Ghana is watching.
The courts are watching.
Future generations are watching.

This is the moment for leadership.

Stop burying your head in the sand.
Stand up and protect the integrity of Ga land and Ga tradition.

Presiding Judge, Justice Hannah Taylor upheld a motion for misjoinder filed by lawyer Enoch Afoakwah on behalf of Charlyn Fosuh, a daughter of the late musician, thereby removing her name from an application seeking letters of administration over the estates of her father.

Mr Afoakwah told the court that his client had neither consented to nor been aware of any affidavit sworn in her name.

He said she preferred that all estate-related matters be resolved amicably within the family before any resort to litigation.

“She did not give authority to any applicant or any person to depose to an affidavit in her name,” Afoakwah told the court.

He added that the children of the late Charles Kwadwo Fosuh were united in their desire to protect their father’s legacy and believed estate matters should be handled internally before any formal legal action was taken.

Mr Afoakwah acknowledged that under Ghana’s intestate succession law (CI 47), the deceased’s spouse, children, surviving parents and customary successor are all legally entitled to apply for letters of administration.

He noted that the first applicant, Akosua Serwaa Fosuh, the widow of the late musician, and the third applicant, Akosua Bimpomaa Fosuh, described as the customary successor, had the legal capacity to bring such an application.

However, he argued that should the children decide to pursue letters of administration, the process ought to be led by the eldest son, Calvin Fosuh, in keeping with family hierarchy and tradition.

He further stated that his client believed her name had been used without consent, an act she considered a breach of trust among the siblings.

The lawyer stressed that the family was not aligned with any faction in the emerging dispute and was keen to avoid protracted legal battles.

“They believe their father should be celebrated, studied and honoured not entangled in endless litigation,” Afoakwah said, adding that peace and unity within the family remained their foremost priority.

ALSO READ:

• Daddy Lumba left no will – High Court

• Whether or not Daddy Lumba left a will – Abuasuapanyin breaks silence

Victor Kofi Owusu explained that he is not responsible for managing the musician’s estate, insisting that such matters rest solely with the lawyers and the immediate family.

His comments come amid reports that the High Court in Accra has confirmed that no will has been deposited by Daddy Lumba at the Probate and Administration Division.

An official registry search, reportedly conducted as part of the legal process to manage the celebrated musician’s estate, found no record of a last will. In a response dated January 19, 2026, at 2:37 p.m., the court stated that no will filed by Charles Kwadwo Fosuh exists in its system.

However, speaking on Adom FM’s midday news Kasiebo is Tasty, the family head, widely known as Abuasuapanyin TuPac, said he has not received any court documents concerning the late musician’s properties and has not been contacted about any process to begin sharing them.

“No court documents have been brought to my attention, neither have I received any. Daddy Lumba’s body belongs to the family, but when it comes to the sharing of his properties, that has to do with the lawyers,” he stated.

According to him, the family’s priority was to give the musician a dignified burial, and that responsibility has now been fulfilled.

“All the things he asked us to do for him, including covering his face with a veil, we did them. The children can testify, and even his lawyers can confirm,” he said.

Abuasuapanyin TuPac explained that discussions about inheritance can only happen after all relevant parties come together, including Daddy Lumba’s children and spouse, but that process has not yet started.

“Since the funeral is over, what is left is for all of us, including the children, to meet before the properties are shared. But how do I get everyone together? You all know the first wife did not attend the funeral,” he added.

He stressed that he is not responsible for inviting anyone for estate discussions and that the sharing of property is not his role.

“I am not the one to share his properties. That is the work of the lawyers. Nobody has called me about sharing anything, and I don’t even know whether they will call me when they are ready,” he said.

Touching on speculation about a will, the family head said he could not confirm whether Daddy Lumba left one behind.

“I cannot say he left a will or not. What I know is that I have no hand in the sharing of his properties. I have already made provision for my wife and children, so Lumba’s wife and children must also come together and do the needful,” he noted.

For now, Abuasuapanyin TuPac says his only concern was ensuring peace and a proper burial for the music icon, which he has achieved.

“I have always wanted peace, and my priority was to bury my nephew. I have done that,” he said.

ALSO READ:

• Fresh twist in Daddy Lumba case: Court recalls lawyers, orders applicants to pay GH₵2m…

• Why court dismissed Akosua Serwaa’s ordinance marriage claim – Lawyer reveals

The confirmation followed an official registry search conducted as part of the legal process to manage the estate of the celebrated artist.

The search aimed to determine whether the late musician had filed a will with the High Court, including details such as the filing date, the person who submitted it, and the lawyer who prepared it.

However, the registry’s response, dated January 19, 2026, at 2:37 pm, revealed that “there is no record of any will deposited by Daddy Lumba.”

The document, signed and stamped by the Registrar of the Probate and Administration Division, confirmed that no such record exists in the court’s registry.

The absence of a registered will means the estate of the late musician may have to be administered under Ghana’s intestate succession laws unless a will emerges from another source.

This development introduces additional legal considerations for the family and representatives managing his affairs.

Daddy Lumba, renowned for his enduring contributions to Ghanaian highlife music, passed away leaving behind a rich musical legacy. His death continues to draw attention to the management of his estate, especially given his status as one of Ghana’s most influential music icons.

In a notice of appeal, Ms Serwaah is challenging the entire judgment of the Kumasi High Court, contending that the trial court erred in rejecting and declaring inadmissible a marriage certificate she tendered in support of her claim.

She further argues that the High Court committed an error of law when it held that she had failed to satisfy the requirements of the Evidence Act, 1975 (NRCD 323) for the admission of the marriage certificate into evidence.

The appellant is therefore asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the High Court’s judgment and to declare her as the sole lawful surviving spouse of the late musician.

On November 28, 2025, the Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice Dr Dorinda Smith Arthur, dismissed Ms Serwaah’s suit, in which she sought a declaration that she was the only surviving spouse of Daddy Lumba.

The court held that the plaintiff failed to establish that she was married to the deceased under the Marriage Ordinance in a manner that would make her the sole surviving spouse.

According to the court, the evidence on record showed that Daddy Lumba married Akosua Serwaah under customary law, which is potentially polygamous. As a result, the court found that his subsequent marriage to Odo Broni was also valid under Ghanaian law.

In conclusion, the High Court declared both Akosua Serwaah and Odo Broni, as the legally recognised surviving spouses of the late music icon.

ALSO READ:

Fresh twist in Daddy Lumba case: Court recalls lawyers, orders applicants to pay GH₵2m…

• ‘Forgive me’ – Bishop Owusu-Ansah apologizes to Judge and public over Daddy Lumba ruling…

Speaking on Adom TV’s morning show Badwam, Papa Shee said Akosua Serwaa, who is currently in Germany, chose to leave the matter in God’s hands after learning of the funeral through hearsay.

He explained that some members of Daddy Lumba’s immediate family were also absent because they are based abroad and had requested a postponement to allow everyone to be present.

Papa Shee disclosed that he personally did not attend the funeral, respecting elders who had withdrawn from the arrangements, and instead stayed home to worship.

“I didn’t attend the funeral because I was at home worshipping. I didn’t see a need to go, especially since I can’t disrespect my elders who said they would not be attending. Akosua Serwaa is in Germany, and some family members are overseas; that’s why they wanted the funeral postponed until everyone could be present,” he said.

He added, “Akosua Serwaa has left everything in God’s hands. She was not officially informed about the funeral date on the 13th; it was only hearsay. Since Lumba’s immediate family wasn’t present at the funeral, it’s up to the family to decide if there will be another service. Akosua Serwaa is the reason Daddy Lumba became who he was.”

Despite family disagreements, thousands of mourners thronged Heroes Park at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi to pay their last respects to the celebrated musician, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba.

READ ALSO:

Scenes from thanksgiving service honouring Daddy Lumba

I changed Rhythms of Africa date to honour Daddy Lumba’s funeral – Sonnie Badu

Thousands gather at Heroes Park to bid farewell to Daddy Lumba [Video]

Speaking on Adom TV’s morning show Badwam, Papa Shee said Daddy Lumba initially travelled back and forth between Germany and Ghana but later decided on his own to settle in Ghana. He stressed that reports suggesting Akosua Serwaa left her husband are false and misleading.

“Daddy Lumba was the one who disowned his family in Germany and then came to Ghana. Akosua did not leave Lumba; he left her. He would go back and forth, but ultimately he decided to stay in Ghana. Therefore, the reports claiming that Akosua Serwaa was the one who left Lumba are completely false. He abandoned his wife and children,” he said.

According to Papa Shee, Akosua Serwaa supported Daddy Lumba from the early stages of his career and has been unfairly maligned because she does not engage in social media to address personal matters.

He also clarified that she last visited Ghana in 2017, contrary to claims that she had not seen the musician for over a decade.

Papa Shee further stated that Akosua Serwaa was unaware of Daddy Lumba’s relationship with Odo Broni and cautioned the public against spreading unverified allegations.

“We should be cautious about the allegations made against Akosua Serwaa; they are not true. She stood by him through thick and thin from the very beginning. Many lies have been spread about her. She is not a social media person and won’t air her family issues online. Akosua came to Ghana in 2017, so the narrative that it has been 13 years since she last saw Lumba is inaccurate. Lumba did not hide his wife; everyone was aware of her. Akosua Serwaa was unaware that Lumba was having an affair with Odo Broni,” he added.

Meanwhile, thousands of mourners have gathered at Heroes Park at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi to pay their final respects to the late musician, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba.

READ ALSO:

Thousands gather at Heroes Park to bid farewell to Daddy Lumba [Video]

Scenes from thanksgiving service honouring Daddy Lumba

I changed Rhythms of Africa date to honour Daddy Lumba’s funeral – Sonnie Badu

Family members, friends, and fans gathered at the funeral grounds to give thanks and celebrate the life and legacy of the music icon.

Daddy Lumba’s sister, Faustina Fosu, was present as the family observed the solemn service.

Emotions ran high as his widow, Odo Broni, was visibly heartbroken, mourning her late husband amid prayers and support from sympathisers.

The thanksgiving service was part of a series of events to remember the late musician, whose contributions to Ghana’s music industry continue to be celebrated nationwide.

In an interview with Joy Prime’s Roselyn on the Changes show, he stated that the previous date, 13th December, was postponed to 21st December after he noticed it coincided with the final funeral rites of the late legendary highlife musician Charles Kwadwo Fosu, widely known as Daddy Lumba.

According to the gospel sensation, the date was changed to honour Daddy Lumba’s legacy, adding that it wouldn’t be appropriate for his event to clash with the burial of such a legendary figure.

“I had to change my 13^th December date because I heard that Manhyia had given him that date which was our date for Kumasi. In honour of his funeral, we changed that date to 21^st.

But Mr. Badu said he was unhappy with the turn of events regarding the legal issues surrounding the funeral, with confusion over whether it will be held on the scheduled date.

Sharing his opinion on the family controversy surrounding Daddy Lumba’s death, Sonnie Badu stated that the late singer was a very private person, and therefore his family should honour him by handling any arising issues privately following his passing.

“I think Daddy Lumba was a very private person and if we grant the will of the departed, then one of the first thing we must grant is his privacy. One of the things nobody can take from Daddy Lumba is privacy. So here is a question, everything that’s going on, is he disturbed in the mortuary’s fridge about all that’s happening?”

He urged the public to pause and reflect on how Daddy Lumba would feel about the unfolding events, stressing that some people are inserting themselves into the matter solely for attention and other unnecessary motives.

“Let us treat this guy’s issue very private and people shouldn’t make it look like we’re really concern yet you have your own agenda in there but psychologically you’re acting as if you care.”

Considering the issues that have emerged following Daddy Lumba’s death, Mr. Badu has advised all men to put their wishes in writing, including how they want their funerals to be conducted, in order to prevent any controversy after their passing.

Speaking to journalists at the funeral on Saturday, December 13, Henry Nana Boakye, the NPP National Organiser, highlighted Daddy Lumba’s immense contributions to Ghanaian music and culture.

“He was an icon. He was a legend. For us, we have lost a huge friend. He was a friend to the New Patriotic Party,” Nana B stated.

The final funeral rites were held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, following weeks of legal disputes over his burial.

Thousands of fans flocked to the Heroes Park at the stadium early in the morning, paying tribute to the musician whose timeless hits have become part of Ghana’s cultural fabric. The atmosphere was a mix of mourning and celebration, as devotees danced and sang along to his songs in honour of his enduring legacy.

The burial followed a decisive ruling by the Accra High Court, which cleared the way for the ceremony. Applicants involved in a family dispute had failed to raise the GH₵2 million required to maintain an injunction blocking the release of the body. With the payment unmet, Transitions Funeral Home was directed to proceed with funeral arrangements.

The court’s decision ended months of uncertainty that had delayed the musician’s burial, a matter that had gripped the nation since his passing.

Lawyers for the respondents argued that further delays would be unfair to the family, fans, and children of the late artist, insisting that the funeral proceed without additional postponement.

Preparations for the funeral intensified following the ruling, culminating in Saturday’s ceremony that brought closure to the long-running dispute surrounding the legendary musician’s last rites.

Widely regarded as one of Ghana’s greatest musicians, Daddy Lumba leaves behind a rich musical legacy that continues to resonate across generations. His burial provides an opportunity for fans and family to bid farewell to a true cultural icon.

Although persistent downpours disrupted parts of the funeral proceedings, hundreds of mourners still turned up to honour the iconic musician, refusing to allow the weather to dampen their spirits.

As the rain poured, Daddy Lumba’s timeless hits filled the venue, with fans dancing under the open skies and singing along to songs that have defined generations.

The unexpected weather created logistical challenges, forcing many attendees to take cover under canopies, while others were briefly stranded as movement around the grounds became difficult. Despite the discomfort, the crowd remained resilient and united.

The atmosphere captured the powerful bond Daddy Lumba shared with his fans. Even amid uncertainty and inconvenience, they chose celebration over frustration, a testament to how his music continues to inspire joy and togetherness long after his passing.

The atmosphere is a poignant blend of solemn reverence and celebratory remembrance, as fans hold up portraits, sing snippets of his timeless hits, and wipe away tears while the funeral procession moves through the crowd.

Heavy security has been deployed around the venue, with uniformed police officers and private security personnel forming a tight cordon. They are closely monitoring the flow of mourners to ensure the ceremony remains peaceful and orderly.

Below are some photos from the funeral ceremony.

The atmosphere is a blend of solemn reverence and celebratory remembrance, as fans hold up portraits, sing snippets of his classic hits, and wipe away tears while the funeral procession moves through the crowd.

Heavy security has been deployed around the venue, with uniformed police officers and private security personnel forming a tight cordon to monitor the flow of people and ensure the event remains peaceful.

Family members have welcomed the strong security presence, noting that it has helped maintain order while allowing friends and fans to mourn without disturbance.

Amid a hush that fell over the stadium, the late musician’s sister, Faustina Fosu, took to the microphone.

“We are grateful to every one of you who has come from near and far to honour our brother,” she said, her voice steady but emotional. “Your presence means the world to us. If you can, please continue to support the family in any way possible, whether through prayers, kind words, or contributions, as we lay him to rest.”

The massive public gathering brings a close to a months-long saga marked by intense family disputes and dramatic legal battles that repeatedly threatened to derail the funeral arrangements.

A Funeral Forged in Court

The funeral is proceeding only after a nail-biting, last-minute development at the Accra High Court.

Just yesterday, Friday, December 12, a High Court ruling cleared the way for the scheduled burial to proceed.

Maternal relatives of the late musician had sought an injunction, arguing they were excluded from the planning process led by the family head, Kofi Owusu.

Ghana bids final farewell to Daddy Lumba

The stadium, usually a venue for major sporting events, is the designated site for the public viewing and funeral service, underscoring the monumental cultural status of the deceased.

As of late Friday evening (December 12), after a High Court gave the green light for the funeral to go ahead, hundreds of mourners had trooped to the stadium.

The cameras of JoyNews spotted traders busily selling T-shirts of different colours with Daddy Lumba images embossed on them.

Others were also selling different paraphernalia associated with the celebrated highlife legend, as some mourners were spotted providing different commentaries about the funeral that had generated drama over the past few weeks.

The Final Journey

Daddy Lumba, whose musical career spanned over thirty years and yielded more than 30 hit albums, left an indelible mark on Ghanaian music.

Today’s service is Ghana’s opportunity to collectively honour the man who gave the nation songs that defined generations, from poignant ballads like Sese Wo Suban to popular anthems like Aben Wo Aha.

Following the public service and tribute performances, the body is expected to be moved to a private location for interment, officially closing the chapter on the life of Charles Kwadwo Fosu.

The scenes at Baba Yara today confirm that his legacy will continue to resonate long after the final farewell.

The burial service is being held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, bringing to an end months of uncertainty marked by bitter legal disputes, deep-seated family disagreements and last-minute court injunctions that repeatedly stalled preparations for his final rites.

The ceremony, described as one of the largest state-assisted funerals for an artiste in recent Ghanaian history, has drawn thousands of mourners. Among them are the President, senior government officials, leading political figures, key stakeholders in the Ghanaian music industry and devoted fans from across the country.

Months of Legal Battles and Family Tensions

Daddy Lumba’s death, though widely mourned, quickly sparked a succession crisis that plunged his funeral arrangements into prolonged controversy.

Several court actions were filed over competing claims to his estate and the right to organise his burial, with multiple women asserting recognition as his lawful wife or partner. These disputes led to a series of injunctions that were alternately imposed and lifted, delaying the funeral for months.

As tensions escalated, traditional leaders and respected dignitaries, particularly from the Asante Royal Palace, were reportedly compelled to intervene to mediate between feuding family factions, highlighting the scale of the crisis surrounding the highlife icon.

Uncertainty lingered until the final hours, with legal teams said to have held emergency meetings less than 48 hours before the service to resolve outstanding issues, including the programme and the roles family members would play during the ceremony.

A Colossal Musical Legacy

Born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, Daddy Lumba rose to prominence in the late 1980s, breaking into the national spotlight with his debut album Yɛyɛ Aka Akwantuo Mu in 1989.

Across a career spanning more than three decades, he released over 30 albums, cementing his status as one of Ghana’s most prolific, influential and celebrated musicians.

He was widely credited with redefining modern highlife by blending traditional Ghanaian rhythms with synthesiser-driven sounds and contemporary Afropop influences. His music spoke to every facet of life, from spirituality and social reflection to love, heartbreak and personal struggle.

Songs such as Asem Pa and Aben Wo Aha showcased his lyrical depth and emotional range, while his distinctive vocal delivery and spoken-word inflections set him apart from his peers.

His impact was recognised through numerous honours, including multiple Ghana Music Awards Artist of the Year accolades, and his influence continues to resonate with generations of musicians across Ghana and beyond.

The Final Journey

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium, usually reserved for major national football matches, was selected to accommodate the unprecedented public interest in Daddy Lumba’s final farewell.

After the public service and tributes, his remains are expected to be conveyed to his hometown for a strictly private traditional burial, finally closing a dramatic chapter in the life and death of one of Ghana’s greatest musical icons.

May the soul of Charles Kwadwo Fosu rest in perfect peace.

Court clears way for Daddy Lumba’s funeral on Saturday after applicants…

Unemployed teachers cry foul over alleged secret GES recruitment; appointment letters…

Months of legal dispute threatened to overshadow today’s ceremony after a High Court injunction briefly halted preparations, with interlocutory orders and family disagreements over burial authority making national headlines.

By dawn, the sprawling stadium had been transformed into a ground of tribute.

Colourful stalls lined entrance routes where vendors hawked memorabilia: T-shirts embossed with Daddy Lumba’s faces, caps and printed programs evoking his decades-long impact on Ghanaian culture.

The familiar rhythms of highlife, many of them Lumba classics, filled the air.

Mourners clasped songbooks, softly singing along to timeless hits, weaving joy and grief in equal measure.

Across the grounds, the atmosphere was reflective but determinedly celebratory. Elderly fans wiped tears as youth swayed to the music, a generational chorus underscoring Lumba’s reach.

A carriage rolled in carrying the casket containing the body of the late music legend.

Many attendees wore traditional funeral cloth in muted colors, while some donned bandanas and accessories bearing the legend’s iconic image.

NDC Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Ashanti Regional Minister, Frank Amoakohene, and the Abusuapanyin Kofi Owusu were all notably present.

Nana Acheampong, overcome with emotion, delivers a heavy-hearted performance of the first song he composed with Daddy Lumba.

Inside the stadium stands, families and friends exchanged stories of Lumba’s influence, from soundtracks to heartbreaks, celebrations to daily life.

The palpable mix of grief, nostalgia and gratitude shaped every corner of the arena.

The funeral’s public culmination comes after the Accra High Court temporarily halted preparations amid a dispute involving segments of Lumba’s extended family and the designated family head.

But with legal deadlines unmet and court orders modified, authorities confirmed the rites are happening as scheduled.

In a ruling delivered earlier today, the court said affidavits before it suggested the immediate family had been sidelined in the funeral planning and stressed that the merits of the case must be properly considered.

Lawyers for both parties were recalled to court and the judge ordered the applicants to appear before 2:00pm today and defray costs incurred in the funeral preparation process by paying GH¢2 million into court.

The applicants failed to meet the deadline and their plea was struck out, removing the legal hurdle and allowing the funeral activities to continue as scheduled.

Counsel for the family head, Thomas Kwadwo Osei, described the court’s decision as a huge relief to the family, adding that they can now proceed with final preparations.

The court’s earlier injunction had briefly halted planned events, raising concerns among relatives and fans who were already in Kumasi and getting ready for the solemn event. With the applicants’ request dismissed, tomorrow’s funeral arrangements will resume.

READ ALSO:

• Fresh twist in Daddy Lumba case: Court recalls lawyers, orders applicants to pay GH₵2m or…
• High Court injunction on Daddy Lumba’s funeral sparks mixed reactions in Kumasi
• Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park to temporarily close on December 27
• High Court order stops funeral setup for Daddy Lumba at Baba Yara Stadium

The court recalled the lawyers involved in the case during proceedings and explained that the payment is intended to defray any costs incurred during the funeral preparations if the burial is ultimately called off.

This latest ruling follows an earlier injunction by the same court, which had restrained Kofi Owusu, the family head (Abusuapanyin), from organizing the funeral and barred Transitions Funeral Home from releasing Daddy Lumba’s body. The injunction was initially granted amid a dispute between the late musician’s maternal relatives and the family head over funeral leadership and fund management.

The court had previously emphasized the need for consultation with the immediate family in accordance with Akan customs, directing the first respondent to convene a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to agree on a new burial date.

With the 2 million cedis condition now in place, the High Court appears to be balancing due process with the need to allow the legendary musician’s burial to proceed, while also ensuring that costs associated with any changes are covered.

Daddy Lumba, who passed away on 26 July 2025 at the age of 60, remains a towering figure in Ghana’s music industry, and public attention continues to focus on both his legacy and the unfolding family dispute over his final rites.

High Court halts Daddy Lumba’s funeral

High Court injunction on Daddy Lumba’s funeral sparks mixed reactions in…

The injunction restrains the family head, Kofi Owusu, from proceeding with burial arrangements and bars Transitions Funeral Home from releasing the body until the dispute before the court is resolved.

The ruling has sparked mixed reactions in Kumasi, where preparations for the funeral—scheduled for December 13, 2025, at Heroes Park, Baba Yara Sports Stadium—were already underway. While some mourners expressed disappointment over the disruption, others welcomed the court’s decision.

The court observed that affidavits indicated the musician’s immediate family had been sidelined in the planning process. It emphasized that although the family head holds authority to lead funeral arrangements, this must be done in consultation with the immediate family.

The court directed the family head to convene a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to agree on a new burial date. It also ordered that funds raised for the funeral be separated from those of the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation, and that the applicants file an affidavit with the court registrar.

The injunction arises from a dispute between Daddy Lumba’s maternal relatives and the family head over who should oversee the funeral and manage related funds, following the musician’s passing on July 26, 2025, at age 60. The case has reignited discussions around Akan customs, which traditionally grant significant authority to the maternal lineage in burial matters.

READ ALSO:

• 
  High Court order stops funeral setup for Daddy Lumba at Baba Yara Stadium
• Vehicle goes up in flames at Shiashie
• High Court halts Daddy Lumba’s funeral

Canopies, chairs, and other setups had already been completed ahead of the ceremony, which was scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025.

However, the arrangements were thrown into uncertainty after the Accra High Court issued an injunction restraining any further activity connected to the funeral.

The court order pauses all ongoing preparations until the legal dispute over the musician’s burial arrangements is fully resolved.

READ ALSO:

• 
  High Court halts Daddy Lumba’s funeral
• 90% of Ghanaian drivers skip accredited driving schools – GNADS
• Chinese delegation visits National Theatre ahead of rehabilitation 

The injunction restrains Kofi Owusu, the family head (Abusuapanyin) and first respondent, from organising the funeral.

It also bars Transitions Funeral Home from releasing the musician’s body until the substantive case is determined.

In its ruling, the court noted that affidavits suggested the immediate family had been sidelined in the funeral arrangements, emphasizing the need to examine the merits of the case thoroughly.

While acknowledging that the delay may incur additional costs, the judge stressed that due process and proper family involvement must be upheld. “The authority of the family head must be exercised in consultation with the immediate family,” the court stated.

The court further directed the first respondent to convene a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to agree on a new burial date.

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

The case stems from a dispute following Daddy Lumba’s passing on July 26, 2025, at the age of 60, highlighting long-standing tensions in Akan customary practices regarding funeral leadership and financial management.

READ ALSO:

• 
  Calm restored in Kwame Danso after mob attacks on court and police station
• Finance Minister calls for more aggressive, proactive tax collection
• ECOWAS Council of Ministers endorses Ghana’s bid for AU Chairmanship in 2027

The case, filed by members of the late musician’s maternal family, centres on a dispute over who holds the traditional and legal authority to organise his funeral. The plaintiffs argue that under Akan custom, that responsibility rests exclusively with the maternal lineage. They contend that no other group has the mandate to take custody of his body or oversee funeral arrangements.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the presiding judge postponed the ruling to Friday. The court is expected to determine who legally has the right to organise the funeral, manage any memorial fund, and take custody of the musician’s remains.

Speaking to journalists, a representative of the Family Head and first defendant, Kweku Emmanuel Debrah, said the family respects the court’s decision and is committed to unity.

“We are waiting for the court ruling. We are all one people, so I don’t want to say something someone will disagree with. Wherever the ruling goes is a victory for us. If we understood each other, we wouldn’t have even come here; that’s why we brought it before the court,” he said.

“We are all waiting for the court, which has the final say, and whatever they say, we will abide by it and work together as a family.”

Highlife musician Papa Shee, who was in court to support the applicants, expressed optimism about the outcome.

“We are glad the judge listened to the lawyers and said we should come tomorrow for the ruling. I know that there will be victory,” he stated.

In a writ dated December 3, five individuals—Obaapanyin Afia Adomah Pakoso, Robert Gyamfi (Wofa Yaw Poku Asuafua), Georgina Gyamfi, Ernestina Fosuh, and Nana Afia Kobi Pakoso—identified as the principal maternal family members of the musician, are asking the court to compel Transitions Funeral Home to withhold the body from any person or group unless approved by them.

The defendants named in the suit are Kofi Owusu Abuakwa of Kumasi, CAL Bank Ghana, and Transitions Funeral Home.

Beyond stopping the release of the body, the plaintiffs are requesting that the court freeze the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation account at CAL Bank. They claim the account is being operated without proper authorization and is being used to fund funeral arrangements without their involvement.

The plaintiffs are seeking several additional orders, including:

• Preventing the first defendant and members of a dissolved committee from accessing the foundation’s account
• Requiring the first defendant to account for and refund any funds withdrawn after the committee’s dissolution
• Restraining CAL Bank from honouring cheques issued by the first defendant
• Changing signatories on the account to a new committee appointed by the head of Daddy Lumba’s immediate family
• Issuing a perpetual injunction barring the defendants or their agents from making any decisions regarding the musician’s final funeral rites

Daddy Lumba’s burial is scheduled for Saturday, December 13, but the court application now casts uncertainty over the planned arrangements.

Daddy Lumba’s maternal family has filed application at the Accra High Court to seeking to prevent the release of his body without their consent.

The family is also seeking a court order to freeze the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation account at CAL Bank, claiming it is being used… pic.twitter.com/C2CGiY4fdq

— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) December 11, 2025

READ ALSO:

Daddy Lumba’s funeral set for March, not December – Papa Shee

Daddy Lumba’s funeral to proceed this Saturday – Planning Committee assures

Ahafo residents praise King Promise for electrifying Goaso performance

In a statement issued on Thursday, December 11, 2025, the Palace clarified that it has no role in any ongoing preparations for the late musician’s funeral and advised Ghanaians to rely only on verified information.

The clarification comes amid widespread reports claiming the Palace was participating in plans for Daddy Lumba’s burial, which officials describe as false and misleading.

Tensions have reportedly arisen between the singer’s immediate family and extended relatives over the appropriate burial date. The family has dismissed a circulating date of December 13, 2025, insisting it is unauthorised.

The Palace cautioned that attempts to link it to the matter could create confusion and urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified reports that may escalate tensions surrounding the funeral arrangements.

READ ALSO:

• Mosiah Walker Man reaches Tamale on 832km Prostate Cancer Awareness Walk to Accra
• Wesley Girls’ Old Girls Association rejects claims of religious discrimination
• Ahafo residents praise King Promise for electrifying Goaso performance

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Papa Shee stated that the late musician’s family expects the funeral to be held in March.

“To my knowledge, and according to the family, the funeral will take place in March,” he said.

He further alleged that an attempt by some relatives and planners to present drinks and invitations at the Manhyia Palace on Wednesday was rejected.

“Yesterday they went to the Manhyia Palace and they were turned away. How can they proceed with the funeral if their drinks and invitations were rejected?” he questioned.

Papa Shee also claimed that the planning committee previously set up for Daddy Lumba’s funeral has long been dissolved, suggesting that no official body is currently mandated to organise the ceremony.

“The so-called funeral committee has been dissolved. The planning committee for Daddy Lumba’s funeral was dissolved long ago, so who exactly is claiming to plan the funeral now?” he asked.

READ ALSO:

• Kpandai rerun: Matthew Nyindam will only be reinstated as MP If … – Inusah Fuseini
• Full speech: NPP on Kpandai election petition judgement
• Asantehene to present report on Bawku conflict mediation to President Mahama on December 16

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, he said preparations have been progressing smoothly despite an ongoing court case.

“The funeral will take place this Saturday, 13th December, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. He passed away in July, and the one-week observation was held on 30th August. A review meeting with the entire family was held on 2nd September,” he explained.

Mr. Amankwah noted that a major stakeholder meeting led to the agreement on the final date.

He emphasized that while legal proceedings continued, the planning committee carried out its responsibilities to ensure a successful ceremony.

“It was a big stakeholder meeting where the date was concluded. Even though the court case was ongoing, the planners were also making preparations,” he added.

READ ALSO:

• NPP National Organiser slams High Court judge over Kpandai rerun ruling
• Black Stars midfielder Francis Abu makes positive recovery, returns to gym work
• 41 arrested in major joint operation against illegal forex trading in Accra

The family has rejected a widely circulated funeral poster that listed Mrs. Akosua Serwah Fosuh alongside another individual as “widow.”

In a statement, the family said the poster was published without Mrs. Fosuh’s consent, misrepresents her status, and includes several family names “for cosmetic purposes,” urging the public to disregard it entirely.

The family strongly defended the legitimacy of Mrs. Fosuh’s German marriage certificate, condemning remarks by Mr. Kofi Owusu on an entertainment programme where he dismissed it as an “Ashtown document.”

The family described such claims as “pathetic, uninformed, and hostile,” and emphasized that the certificate remains a legally valid and internationally recognised document.

Defending their spokesperson, Evangelist Papa Shee, also known as Nana Yaw Akosah, the family reiterated that he is a long-standing confidant and fully authorised to speak on their behalf, dismissing suggestions to the contrary as false and unfounded.

While expressing respect for the recent ruling by Her Ladyship Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur, the family noted disagreements with aspects of the decision and indicated plans to seek legal redress to ensure clarity and protect the dignity of the late musician’s widow and children.

The family concluded by reassuring Ghanaians, particularly those in Germany, of the authenticity and credibility of German marriage certificates, describing them as “the Mercedes-Benz of marriage certificates,”.

They also affirmed their commitment to honouring the legacy of Charles Kwadwo Fosuh with transparency and dignity.

A lawsuit filed by members of the musician’s immediate family accuses the designated head of the wider family of secrecy, mismanagement, and attempting to hijack the memorial rites since Lumba’s passing on July 26, 2025.

The matter is scheduled to be heard in court on Thursday, December 11, 2025.

Criminal Probe Demanded Over Secret Autopsy

The most profound grievance underlying the civil suit is the lack of transparency surrounding Daddy Lumba’s death. The plaintiffs—Obaapanin Afia Adomah, Robert Gyamfi (Wofa Yaw Poku), Georgina Gyamfi, Ernestina Fosuh, and Nana Afia Kobi—claim they were deliberately excluded from critical decisions.

According to the writ filed, the immediate family was not officially informed of the musician’s passing before:

“…an autopsy had already been conducted without their knowledge or consent.”

Disturbed by the procedural irregularities and perceived deliberate concealment, the plaintiffs have escalated the matter beyond civil litigation.

They have lodged a formal complaint with the Homicide Division of the Ghana Police Service, demanding a full investigation to ascertain the true cause of death.

The Fight for the Coffin: Injunction Against Funeral Home

The plaintiffs have sought sweeping interlocutory injunctions against three specific parties: Kofi Owusu (identified as the head of the wider family), CalBank, and Transitions Funeral Home.

The immediate family’s control over the highlife legend’s remains is a key point of contention. To prevent what they perceive as an unauthorized release of the body, the family has asked the court to:

“…stop Transitions Funeral Home from releasing the corpse to Owusu or anyone acting on his behalf until the suit is determined.”

They argue that the wider family head’s unilateral actions concerning the body and funeral arrangements necessitate this drastic judicial restraint.

Financial Hijack: The DL Foundation Account

The dispute is further inflamed by allegations of the mismanagement of public donations collected during the one-week observation rites.

The core financial asset in dispute is the “DL Foundation” account held at CalBank, into which all cash contributions from the memorial were deposited.

The family alleges that Kofi Owusu unilaterally formed a committee to manage these funds and rites without the core family’s consent. They claim unauthorized monies were withdrawn, and all attempts to compel Owusu to account for the funds have been rebuffed.

Their fears over the financial health of the funeral arrangements are starkly outlined in their writ:

“The core fear driving the suit is that ‘Owusu will continue to squander all the monies in the account,’ leaving nothing for the organization of the final funeral rites.”

Consequently, the family is asking the court for explicit financial injunctions:

• Restrain CalBank from releasing any money from the DL Foundation account to Owusu.
• Block Owusu from accessing any other accounts belonging to the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation LBG.

Manhyia Intervention Deemed Ineffective

The depth of the family crisis is evidenced by the fact that the dispute had previously reached the Manhyia Palace, the traditional seat of the Asantehene.

The initial committee formed by Owusu was reportedly dissolved at Manhyia, and a new funeral committee was appointed.

However, the plaintiffs claim that despite the traditional authority’s intervention, Owusu has “continued to retain funds and authority previously under his control,” necessitating the current legal action.

The tragic situation transforms what should be a unified national period of mourning into a bitter, high-stakes legal contest over transparency, control, and legitimacy that threatens to cast a shadow over the enduring legacy of one of Ghana’s most celebrated musicians.

ALSO READ:

41st Farmers’ Day: 82-year-old farmer Abraham Kwaku Edusei wins overall Best…

Adansi Asokwa DCE pledges to reclaim galamsey lands for large-scale farming

Nana Agradaa apologises for false allegations against Empress Gifty

The celebrated musician touched down in Accra last night and called on Ghanaians to join in honouring the memory of the late icon.

“Let’s come together and celebrate the life of my brother Daddy Lumba… My condolences once again to the family and loved ones,” he said.

The funeral is expected to take place on December 13, 2025, as announced by the Manhyia Palace.

However, the ceremony remains in limbo, as the direct family of the late highlife legend, Charles Kwadwo Fosuh—popularly known as Daddy Lumba—has strongly objected to the widely circulated date.

According to the family, a December funeral is impossible due to the ongoing autopsy and investigations in both Ghana and Germany, critical academic examinations for some of the late musician’s children abroad, and the need to allow adequate time for relatives and close associates overseas to prepare and attend.

Nonetheless, Nana Acheampong has arrived in time to offer his support, expressing deep heartbreak over the passing of his ‘brother.’

Nana Acheampong and Daddy Lumba formed one of Ghana’s most celebrated music duos, the Lumba Brothers, after meeting in Germany in the 1980s.

Their partnership revolutionized the highlife genre and birthed a modern sound that influenced an entire generation.

Their debut album, Yeeye Aka Akwantuo Mu, set them on an iconic path, and although they later pursued solo careers, both continued to dominate the highlife music scene.

Despite occasional public speculation about rivalry, both artistes consistently affirmed their deep brotherhood and musical bond, which spanned more than three decades.

Since the Daddy Lumba family controversy broke out, I have avoided reading any of the stories or the debates. I’ve tuned off on this matter, as I have on some family feuds in the past.

The closest I have come to developing an interest in the Lumba family feud is that one of the women is called Serwaa, which is the most pleasant female name I know. If you ask me who the first wife is or who won the court case, I cannot tell you.

(And I have nothing against those who follow the story. Not everyone must be interested in Elder Agyepong’s “borla” business, you barb?)

So, what I’m about to write is not the substance of the matter, but a disturbing commentary I have seen some men write about the controversy.

It is worth noting that if a woman had died and left two men fighting, the narrative would have been predictably different from what we are seeing now. But even beyond that, some men seem to be defining marriage in narrow terms, from the dominant positive of power.

I have seen sermons admonishing women to take good care of their husbands so that the men are not tempted to go for other women. Some have even compared the role of women to domestic workers. And the woman’s fellowship of social media descended on those posts with the appropriate responses, so I have nothing more to add. But the views are varied.

Clara Kowlaga Kasser-Tee posted a piece of advice she took from the learned Justice Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu on choosing the father of one’s children carefully. In response to that post, my friend Atik Mohammed, among other things, wrote:

“…The decision of marriage is strictly the man’s. You can have your ideal man you wish to marry as a woman, if that man does not do you the honors, thinking of him as a husband is at best, a wishful thought.”

Really?

Unlike random Facebookers whose intelligence I cannot vouch for, Atik is a smart dude, but I disagree with his position, which many men seem to endorse.

If you are a man who thinks marrying a woman is doing her a favour, then you are missing a major point about marriage. You’re entering into a union in which both parties have an equal stake. Being the head of that union, as men are made to believe, is just ceremonial.

Wielding a penis does not make you wiser than your wife. Why? The penis is brainless.

Any man who believes that the duty of his wife is to stay home and take care of him is not fit to be called a husband. That man is a child who should go back to his parents to be taken care of.

A married man is supposed to be an adult. The toxic mindset that a woman is responsible for taking care of her husband is ingrained in our society. That is what informs some TV commercials (such as the one in a Vodafone ad or so) in which mothers-in-law call their sons’ wives and instruct them on how to take care of their husbands.

The world has moved on. One does not need a university degree to discard the disturbingly archaic idea that marrying a woman means getting a cook or a laundry hand.

Mr. Man, it is true that your mother did not teach you how to cook. But it is also true that your father did not take you through “atopa” tutorials. So, if you have learned to have sex on your own, you can learn to cook.

ALSO READ:

Full judgment reveals more details of Akosua Serwaa’s marriage case [read]

‘Ghana Television channels killed our movie industry’ – Selassie Ibrahim claims

The document offers a comprehensive account of the evidence presented, including marriage certificates, witness testimonies, and civil documentation.

It outlines the court’s reasoning for recognising both women’s marital status, addressing claims related to widowhood rites, estate management, and the rights of surviving spouses.

The judgment also clarifies disputes over property, financial entitlements, and family responsibilities, offering guidance on how the musician’s estate is to be managed.

Legal experts note that the case sets a significant precedent in Ghanaian family law, particularly regarding the recognition of multiple marriages under both civil and customary law.

Read full 49-page judgement below:

Those were the words of Justice Emeritus David Maraga, the 14th Chief Justice of Kenya, contained in a letter dated 25th October 2024, addressed to Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur on her appointment as a High Court judge.

Her Ladyship Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur will go into the history books of the Judicial Service as having expeditiously adjudicated one of the controversial but landmark spousal cases involving legendary highlife musician Charles Kwadwo Fosuh, known in showbiz circles as Daddy Lumba, with speed and alacrity.

Justice Smith Arthur has already endeared herself to patrons of her court, earning the praise of counsels for applicants and defendants, legal practitioners, and journalists covering the case at High Court 5 in Kumasi.

She has, in a record one month, adjudicated a case which, under normal circumstances, should have lasted a minimum of three years in a country where such cases often suffer many adjournments.

Her judgment, which she says was to resolve the dispute, was also intended to educate Ghanaians on marriages and their possible dissolution.

Akosua Serwaa Fosuh sought an order of the court to make her the only surviving wife of the late Charles Kwadwo Fosuh, sole candidate to perform the widowhood rite, and also an order to restrain the 2nd defendant in the case, Priscilla Ofori, also known as Odo Broni, from identifying herself as wife of the late musician.

The suit comes after the death of the celebrated musician, born Charles Kwadwo Fosuh, on July 26, 2025, in Accra.

Myjoyonline.com has been looking at the background of the presiding judge, who received wild applause in open court for how she expeditiously and fairly heard the case, despite all the tensions and acrimony arising between litigants, arguments and counter-arguments, and the banters of counsels for both applicant and defendants.

Her Ladyship is jovial, with a face that always beams with smiles, but she is very firm, ensuring that the rules are applied to the letter.

She was called to the Bench in July 2013, first as a District Court Magistrate, then as a Circuit Court Judge on January 10, 2019, by then Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Sophia Abena Boafowaa Akuffo.

Justice Smith Arthur was in charge of specialized gender-based cases, narcotics, and mining cases, among others, while adjudicating civil and other criminal cases, having worked in the Central, Greater Accra, and Ashanti Regions.

She was sworn in as Justice of the High Court on September 30, 2024, by then President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The mother of four enjoys cooking, reading, music, teaching, and mentoring her children.

The certified marriage counselor and life coach had her basic education at the South Suntreso Adventist Preparatory School. In fact, she is a Suntreso girl.

She had her legal training in Ghana, the US, and Zambia, having obtained her Bachelor of Arts (Law and English) and Bachelor of Law degrees from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and a Practicing Law Certificate from the Ghana School of Law, University of Ghana.

She has a Master of Laws from the University of Ghana Law School, focusing on Alternative Dispute Resolution; a Master of Laws from the University of Reading School of Law, focusing on Global Crisis, Conflict and Disaster Management; and a Master of Laws degree from Northeastern University School of Law, Boston, USA.

Her Ladyship Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur recently added a PhD in Criminology and Human Rights from the African Research University, Lusaka, Zambia, at the 13th graduation ceremony of the school.

She featured prominently on the university’s social media handles, especially on Facebook, having received special mention.

As the first female High Court Judge of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, she is also a member of several professional bodies and associations, including the Association of Magistrates and Judges, Ghana; Commonwealth Association of Magistrates and Judges; International Association of Women Judges; and the American Society of International Law.

Affectionately called “DD,” Justice Smith Arthur is often regarded as a woman with impeccable character and hard to influence.

A former Municipal Chief Executive for Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem sums it up about Her Ladyship Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur:

“She is too much devoted to her work at the expense of her own self. Sometimes I will say DD, go and rest because when you are not there, Ghana will still move on, and she will say I have to do what I have to do for the betterment of Ghana.

“She is a woman with impeccable character,” he added.

Recounting an encounter, Mr Appiah, a lawyer by profession, said he received the “shock of his life” when he appeared before Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur.

“One day, I had to appear before her. When I appeared before her, I had my nice suit, thinking that I was going to get bail. That time I had a shock in my life. The bail was refused. She said you have to come back next week well prepared, and we will see what will happen,” he recalled.

He added, “That is the kind of woman that she is. She doesn’t mix social life with professional life.”

Mr Appiah was speaking at a thanksgiving service organized in honour of Her Ladyship Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church at Cape Coast, following her appointment as High Court judge.

So how does Justice Smith Arthur, whose life hinges on the virtues of integrity, fairness and equality before the law, see herself?

“As a judge, I owe a duty to the state to do justice to all manner of persons who appear before me regardless of their age, of their religion, their social standing and their political affiliation.

“Consequently, my life as a judge is more reserved because I am ethically encouraged not to socialize much due to conflict of interest issues and also due to the demand to be seen to be independent.

“So you see, even the way I walk, I walk reservedly. My judicial duty takes precedence over all other activities,” she said when she spoke on the topic “The Mindset of Integrity” at Uplift 2022 in Accra.

According to her, she does not allow people, not even pastors, to see her, let alone influence her.

This has been the status quo, a principle she has also taught her court staff.

“Personally, I do not allow anybody to see me. When I say anybody, I mean exactly so — including pastors and all.

“I refuse gifts of all forms, tokens or thanksgiving; I do refuse. In fact, it doesn’t even get to me,” she emphasised.

Testifying to Justice Arthur’s uprightness, President of the Ananse Centre for Leadership and Development, Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, described her as a woman of character.

“She is a woman of character. What she says, she does, and she’s well known,” he stated.

Ananse Centre for Leadership and Development is an organisation committed to raising a new generation of Africans who will make a difference in the world.

Her Ladyship Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur is the Vice President of the organisation.

Alberta Kpeleku, a Peace and Conflict expert and Executive Director for 360 Human Rights, a non-governmental organisation, describes Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur as a good mother who makes complex situations look normal.

“She makes complex things very simple. I admire her work; she is disciplined. She is a good mother as well,” he said.

Justice Dorinda Arthur is an author who has written extensively on integrity. Among her books are “The Pursuit of Integrity and Excellence: A Little Word to Law Students & Practitioners” and “The Kiss of Integrity—My God and My Judicial Philosophy,” a book inspired by her inaugural address to a group of Adventist Youth & Young Professionals on October 12, 2024.

She has also written and contributed to international journals such as JBDL Journal for Business, Development, and Leadership and SSRN, on topics such as juvenile justice in Ghana, illegal small-scale mining, and its devastating effects on the rights of indigenous people to clean, unpolluted water.

 ‘The law does not wait for perfect conditions’

The court recently rejected her assertion that her marriage to the musician was an ordinance marriage, a status that would have legally prevented him from contracting any subsequent marriages.

Her lawyer, William Kusi, told Accra-based Citi FM that the legal team would “file the appeal by the end of the day,” insisting the High Court erred in its judgment. According to him, “the supporting documents and admissions from the defendants” strongly supported Serwaa’s position.

Kusi also pushed back against public criticism that he mishandled aspects of the case, including concerns about certifying the marriage certificate through a German official. He maintained that the law allows “multiple legitimate means” of submitting such documents and that his team followed due process.

The case has generated significant public attention, highlighting the legal complexities surrounding marriage recognition and validity under Ghanaian law.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Papa Shee said the family is dissatisfied with the decision and maintains that they have original documents from Germany proving that Daddy Lumba and Akosua Serwaa were legally married.

According to him, the German Embassy issued official documents to Serwaa, including a marriage certificate and a marriage book containing family history.

“We are not satisfied with the court ruling. The judge is the only one saying the documents are not authentic. Both Daddy Lumba and Akosua Serwaa are German citizens, so the documents cannot be fake,” he stated, adding that the family will pursue an appeal “for transparency” and to protect the musician’s legacy.

Papa Shee also disclosed that some family members prefer the funeral to be held in March to allow time for proper planning, completion of the autopsy, and for Lumba’s children—some of whom are writing exams or abroad—to be available.

The Kumasi High Court ruling legally recognised both women as spouses of the late musician, permitting them to jointly perform widowhood rites.

READ ALSO:

• Why court dismissed Akosua Serwaa’s ordinance marriage claim – Lawyer reveals
• 8 more arrested over fire in Hong Kong that killed over 120 people
• High Court recognises Odo Broni and Akosua Serwaa as both spouses of Daddy Lumba