High court suspends Daddy Lumba’s funeral on Dec. 13, blocks release of body

An Accra High Court has ruled in favour of the maternal side of the Fosuh family, in the case restraining the first respondent, Kofi Owusu, the family head (Abusuapanyin), from organising the final funeral rites of highlife legend, Charles Kwadwo Fosuh, popularly known as Daddy Lumba.

Delivering the ruling , the court held that each case must be taken on its merits, adding that affidavits before the court showed that the immediate family had been sidelined in the planning of the funeral.

The Judge noted that while the Head of family has the traditional right to lead funeral arrangements, this must be done with the full involvement of the immediate family.

The court further observed that any further delay in the burial could come at great financial cost, but said the concerns raised by the applicants were valid and required the court’s intervention.

The judge therefore issued the following orders;
- The first respondent (Family Head) is restrained from organising the burial of Daddy Lumba until the final determination of the substantive matter.

- The third respondent (Transitions Funeral Home) is restrained from releasing the body to any party.

- The first respondent (Family Head) must convene a meeting within three weeks, bringing together all parties and stakeholders to collectively plan and fix a new date for the final funeral rites.

- Funds raised for the funeral must be separated from the personal account of the late musician.

- The applicants have been instructed to meet the registrar to sign an affidavit as directed by the court.

The ruling effectively puts the funeral arrangements on hold while ensuring that all factions within the family are involved in the final decisions concerning the burial of Daddy Lumba.

The case has been adjourned to January 15, 2026.