The Accra High Court has issued a fresh directive in the ongoing dispute over the burial of Ghanaian Highlife legend Charles Kwadwo Fosu, famously known as Daddy Lumba.
In its latest ruling, the court has ordered the applicants involved in the case to pay GH₵2 million by 2:00 pm today, warning that the funeral—scheduled to take place tomorrow—will proceed without further delay should they fail to comply.
The directive was delivered after the court recalled the lawyers representing the parties, seeking further clarification on the circumstances surrounding the previous injunction and the ongoing impasse.
According to the court, the GH₵2 million payment is intended to offset any costs already incurred during the funeral preparations, particularly if the burial is eventually halted or rescheduled as a result of the dispute. The amount is meant to serve as a financial safeguard to prevent undue losses to those who have invested in the arrangements.
This new development comes just days after the same High Court issued an injunction restraining Kofi Owusu, the family head (Abusuapanyin), from going ahead with the funeral.
The court also barred Transitions Funeral Home from releasing Daddy Lumba’s body until the concerns raised by the late musician’s maternal family were fully addressed.
The injunction was triggered by a disagreement between Daddy Lumba’s maternal relatives and the family head over leadership authority, decision-making power, and the management of funds related to the funeral.
According to the maternal family, key decisions regarding burial arrangements were made without their involvement, a violation of Akan customary practices, which require consultation with the maternal lineage before major rites are finalized.
The High Court, in its earlier ruling, underscored the importance of respecting traditional customs when handling the burial of such a prominent figure. It therefore directed the first respondent to convene a stakeholder meeting within three weeks.
The goal of this meeting would be to ensure that all family factions participate meaningfully in setting a new burial date acceptable to everyone.
However, with the new directive to pay GH₵2 million within hours, the matter has taken a more urgent and complex turn.
The ruling suggests that while the court acknowledges the need for due process and family consultation, it also seeks to prevent indefinite delays that may undermine the solemnity of the late musician’s final rites.
If the applicants fail to make the payment, the funeral—originally scheduled for tomorrow—will move ahead as planned. This conditional allowance indicates the court’s intention to balance legal fairness, customary obligations, and the practical realities of organizing the burial of a national icon.
Daddy Lumba, who passed away on 26 July 2025 at age 60, remains one of Ghana’s most revered musical figures. With a decades-long catalog of hits and a dedicated global fanbase, his burial has attracted intense public interest.
As the family dispute unfolds, many Ghanaians continue to express hope that the late legend will be laid to rest with the dignity and unity befitting his legacy.
Further updates are expected following the court’s ultimatum and any subsequent decisions made by the parties involved.
