By Daniel Bampoe
The aftermath of the death of the celebrated highlife legend, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, has turned into an emotionally charged and public family feud, marked by legal battles, accusations of neglect, and sharp divisions over his nationality, estate, and funeral arrangements.
A new twist erupted after a viral video surfaced on October 31, 2025, showing Ernestina Fosu, the late musician’s elder sister, furiously accusing the family head, Agya Kofi Owusu, of sidelining Lumba’s siblings in funeral decisions and attempting to proceed with the December burial without addressing concerns about the cause of his death.
“I have already told him privately — he should dare and bury my brother without us knowing the cause of his death and see what will happen,” she warned in the video, which has since dominated social media discussions.
Funeral Row Deepens
The feud intensified after the Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur, dismissed an injunction application filed by Akosua Serwah Fosuh, who claims to be the legal widow of Daddy Lumba.
She had sought to stop the planned funeral on December 6, 2025, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium until issues surrounding her marital status and citizenship rights were resolved.
The widow had argued that she was being excluded from the funeral planning by the Abusua Panin and that, under German civil law, she should have full control over her late husband’s remains.
However, the court ruled that traditional and customary rites could not be restrained by injunction, effectively clearing the path for the extended family to proceed with the funeral.
Following the ruling, Agya Kofi Owusu, head of the Ekona Abusua, declared the decision a “victory for unity and tradition,” vowing that the funeral would be held according to Asante customary practices. The family has indicated that all the two wives of Lumba, Akosua Serwah and Odo Broni would be allowed to observe widowhood rites.
Widow’s Controversial Claim
In a subsequent legal letter to the Kumasi High Court, Akosua Serwah Fosuh argued that her late husband was no longer a Ghanaian citizen at the time of his death.
Through her lawyer, William Kusi, she submitted documents allegedly showing that Lumba renounced his Ghanaian citizenship in 2002 after acquiring German nationality under Section 9 of the Ghana Nationality Act, 1971 (Act 361).
She attached what she described as official proof — including a Certificate of Renunciation of Ghanaian Citizenship No. 699, payment receipts, and a declaration filed at the Embassy in Bonn, Germany.
The widow insisted that Ghana could not recognize her husband as a German while alive but claim his body as Ghanaian property in death.
However, legal experts have widely criticized her action as procedurally improper and ethically questionable, since such a direct letter to a sitting judge constitutes an ex parte communication.
German Embassy Confirms Marriage — But Avoids Burial Dispute
Complicating matters further, the German Embassy in Accra confirmed in a letter dated October 27, 2025, that Akosua Serwah Fosuh was legally married to the late musician under German law.
The marriage, which took place in Bornheim, Germany, on December 23, 2004, was still valid at the time of Lumba’s death on July 26, 2025.
However, the Embassy’s letter carefully avoided commenting on burial rights, emphasizing that such matters fall under Ghanaian jurisdiction and customary law.
Family Rift And Accusations of Exploitation
As court battles continue, divisions within the Lumba family have widened. Ernestina and other siblings have accused the funeral committee of prioritizing financial interests over transparency, including a controversial proposal to take a bank loan to fund the funeral.
“They said they want to borrow money to bury him — why? There is enough money already. This is how they’ll end up selling his houses to pay debts,” Ernestina lamented.
She also alleged that some relatives are exploiting the musician’s death for personal gain and called for an independent probe into his death, citing “conflicting accounts” of how he died in Germany.
Dispute Over Lumba’s Estate
At the center of the conflict lies a web of property disputes. Reports indicate that Lumba owned valuable assets, including a residence in Bornheim (Germany), houses at Tantra Hill, Dome, and North Legon, and two plots of land at Adoato, Kumasi.
Mrs. Fosuh insists these were jointly acquired during their marriage and must remain under the control of the nuclear family, while the extended family claims entitlement under Akan inheritance traditions.
This tension has split the family — with Lumba’s sisters largely siding with Akosua Serwah, and the Abusua Panin insisting on traditional authority over funeral and estate matters.
Children Call for Calm
Amid the growing acrimony, Charlyn Fosuh, speaking for the late musician’s children, has pleaded for calm and neutrality.
“We only want to celebrate our father’s legacy in peace. These disputes dishonor his memory,” she stated in a press release.
What Lies Ahead
Though the High Court’s decision has cleared the way for the December funeral, the feud over citizenship, inheritance, and cultural rights continues to overshadow preparations.
For now, the legendary musician who sang about love, loyalty, and life’s contradictions has become the center of a family storm that mirrors those very themes — a tragic reflection of how even in death, Daddy Lumba remains larger than life.
