The Accra High Court has granted an injunction sought by the maternal relatives of late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, preventing the first respondent, Kofi Owusu, the family head (Abusuapanyin), from proceeding with burial arrangements that had been scheduled for this weekend in the Ashanti Region.
The ruling also prohibited the third respondent, Transitions Funeral Home, from releasing the musician’s remains until the substantive case is concluded.
In delivering its decision, the court observed that affidavits presented indicated the immediate family had been excluded from the funeral planning. The judge emphasized that the merits of the case must be considered before any burial takes place, acknowledging that postponement could increase expenses but stressing the importance of due process and proper family involvement.
Although the court recognized the family head’s authority to oversee funeral preparations, it ruled that such powers must be exercised in consultation with the deceased’s immediate family.
The court further instructed 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 kept separate from accounts belonging to the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation, with applicants directed to file an affidavit with the registrar.
This legal battle arises from disputes following Daddy Lumba’s passing on July 26, 2025, at the age of 60. Tensions between his maternal relatives and the family head over funeral leadership and financial management have escalated, reflecting Akan traditions that grant the maternal lineage significant authority in burial matters.
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