By Grace Zigah
A fresh twist has emerged in the ongoing legal tussle over the estate of legendary highlife musician Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, following court documents that suggest the iconic artist may have died intestate.
According to records from the High Court of Justice in Accra, a formal search conducted by the Probate and Administration Division in January 2026 found no evidence that Daddy Lumba had registered a Last Will and Testament before his death.
The registry search, which forms part of ongoing proceedings over the administration of his estate, reportedly returned a blank result under sections that would ordinarily capture details of a deposited will, including the date of filing, the depositor, or the legal practitioner involved.
The development has heightened public and legal interest in the distribution of the late musician’s vast estate, as it points to the likely application of the intestate succession regime under PNDC Law 111.
Court officials endorsed the registry search on January 19, 2026, linking it directly to pending applications concerning the management of Daddy Lumba’s assets.
Daddy Lumba, widely celebrated as one of Ghana’s most successful and wealthiest musicians, passed away on July 26, 2025, at The Bank Hospital in Accra after a brief illness.
He was 60 years old. His death marked the end of a career spanning over three decades, during which he released more than 30 albums and built an empire that extended beyond music into real estate and other business ventures.
His net worth has been estimated at about $26 million, equivalent to roughly GH₵268 million.
In the months following his death, the late musician’s private life and estate became the subject of intense legal and public scrutiny.
Disagreements initially surfaced over funeral arrangements, culminating in court interventions before he was finally laid to rest on December 13, 2025, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Barely weeks after the burial, tensions shifted decisively to the management of his estate.
His first wife, Akosua Serwaa, together with his elder sister, Ernestina Fosu, and his daughter, Charlyn Fosu, filed an application at the High Court’s Probate Division seeking Letters of Administration to enable them manage the estate.
Court filings indicate that the application lists at least 19 properties registered in Daddy Lumba’s name, including residential homes, commercial buildings and parcels of land located across the country.
However, the move has not gone unchallenged. Another wife of the late musician, Priscilla Ofori, popularly known as Odo Broni, has entered a caveat through her lawyers, effectively blocking the grant of Letters of Administration until the court resolves competing claims.
The dispute over spousal status was partly settled in an earlier ruling by the Kumasi High Court on November 28, 2025, when the court recognised both Akosua Serwaa and Priscilla Ofori as lawful surviving spouses.
In a detailed 74-page judgment, the court dismissed attempts by either party to claim exclusive recognition as Daddy Lumba’s only wife.
With the apparent absence of a registered will, legal experts note that the estate now falls squarely under the Intestate Succession Act, 1985 (PNDC Law 111).
The law provides that where a person dies without a valid will, their estate is shared among surviving spouses, children and other qualifying family members according to a fixed formula.
In situations involving multiple legally recognised wives, each spouse is entitled to a portion of the estate, alongside the children.
Lawyers familiar with probate matters caution that intestate estates of this magnitude often lead to prolonged litigation, particularly where multiple beneficiaries, extensive property holdings and complex family relationships are involved.
They add that the Daddy Lumba case underscores the importance of comprehensive estate planning for high-net-worth individuals.
However, as the matters stand, the High Court is expected to hear the pending application for Letters of Administration in the coming weeks.
With two surviving wives, several children, valuable properties and now confirmation that no registered will has been traced, the administration of Daddy Lumba’s estate is shaping up to be a lengthy and closely watched legal battle, even as fans continue to celebrate his enduring musical legacy.
