The Accra High Court has granted an injunction filed by the maternal family of late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, restraining the family head, Kofi Owusu (Abusuapanyin), from organising the musician’s burial, which was scheduled for this weekend in the Ashanti Region.
The court also barred Transitions Funeral Home, the third respondent, from releasing the body until the substantive case is fully resolved.
In its ruling, the court noted that affidavits suggested the immediate family had been sidelined in funeral arrangements and emphasized the need to consider the merits of the case before any burial occurs. While acknowledging that delaying the funeral could increase costs, the judge stressed the importance of due process and proper family involvement.
Although the family head has authority to lead funeral preparations, the court held that this power must be exercised in consultation with the immediate family.
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, while instructing the applicants to file an affidavit with the court registrar.
The case arises from disagreements following Daddy Lumba’s death on July 26, 2025, at age 60. A dispute between his maternal relatives and the family head over funeral leadership and fund management reflects longstanding Akan customs that grant the maternal lineage significant authority in burial matters.
