The Accra High Court has intervened in the burial plans for legendary Ghanaian musician Daddy Lumba, issuing an injunction that prevents his family head, Kofi Owusu, from organizing the funeral. The ruling also bars Transitions Funeral Home from releasing the musician’s body until the court resolves the underlying dispute.
Daddy Lumba, who passed away on July 26, 2025, at the age of 60, left behind a legacy of chart-topping hits and a deeply divided family.
The dispute erupted between his maternal relatives and the family head over who should take charge of the funeral arrangements and the management of funds raised in his memory.
In its ruling, the court highlighted that affidavits suggested the immediate family had been sidelined in the planning process. The judge stressed that while the family head traditionally has the authority to oversee funerals under Akan custom, this power must be exercised in consultation with the deceased’s close family members.
The court has ordered the first respondent to convene a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to agree on a new burial date.
Additionally, it directed that all funds raised for the funeral be kept separate from accounts of the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation. The applicants were instructed to file supporting affidavits with the court registrar.
The musician’s death ignited a nationwide outpouring of grief, with fans and fellow artists mourning the loss of one of Ghana’s most influential musicians.
However, tensions within the family have dominated headlines in recent months, highlighting the complex interplay of cultural customs, family authority, and legal oversight in Akan burial traditions.
The injunction signals that Daddy Lumba’s final farewell will not proceed until the family reaches consensus, marking a rare legal intervention in a high-profile Ghanaian funeral dispute.
