BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Fresh tensions have emerged over the final resting place of the late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, as traditional authorities within the Ga Traditional Council call on the musician’s family to perform rituals to appease the deities of the land.
The concerns follow persistent reports suggesting that the celebrated musician, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, may have been buried at his private residence in East Legon, rather than in a designated cemetery.
Ga Authorities Cite Violation Of Customary Practice
Speaking on behalf of the office of the Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, Jesse Ankrah explained that such a burial arrangement could conflict with long-standing Ga-Dangme traditional customs, which do not permit the burial of the dead within residential communities.
According to him, Ga cultural practices require that the deceased be buried in designated areas, away from places where people live.
“In Ga tradition, the dead are not buried among the living. Such an act is considered improper and goes against our customs,” he said.
Reports Of Burial Spark Public Debate
The controversy intensified after Victor Kofi Owusu Boahen, widely known as Abusuapanin Tupac, granted an interview on Ezra TV on February 26, 2026.
During the interview, he reportedly confirmed claims previously made by media personality Afia Schwarzenegger that the highlife legend had been buried at his East Legon home in line with what he described as the musician’s final wishes.
The claims quickly spread across social media platforms and sparked widespread public discussion, prompting traditional authorities to intervene.
Traditional Authorities Summon Family Head
In response to the circulating reports, the office of the Gborbu Wulomo issued a letter dated March 10, 2026, summoning Abusuapanin Tupac to appear before the Ga spiritual leadership on March 13, 2026.
The summons required the family representative to provide clarification regarding the alleged burial arrangement, which traditional leaders said had generated concern among sections of the Ga-Dangme community.
However, when the scheduled date arrived, the family head reportedly failed to appear before the traditional council to respond to the concerns raised.
Rituals Required to Appease Deities
According to Reverend Ankrah, the alleged burial could also have spiritual implications for the community because Ga traditional beliefs consider it inappropriate for human remains to be placed close to sacred sites associated with deities.
He explained that if such a burial took place, the family would be required to perform traditional rituals to pacify the land and the spiritual authorities responsible for it.
“It is regarded as unclean for human remains to be placed close to areas associated with our deities. When such an act occurs, the family involved must perform rituals to appease not only the land but also the traditional authorities and the spiritual forces that govern the territory where the burial took place,” he said.
Environmental and Public Health Concerns
Beyond the cultural and spiritual implications, the traditional leaders also raised environmental and public health concerns associated with burying human remains within residential communities.
They indicated that such practices could have broader consequences for sanitation and community safety if not properly regulated.
Family Leadership Crisis Deepens
The situation is further complicated by reports that the family head involved in the burial controversy may have been removed from his position amid ongoing disputes within the family over funeral arrangements and the administration of Daddy Lumba’s estate.
Despite this development, Reverend Ankrah insisted that the family must still respond to the traditional authorities, regardless of whether they currently have a recognised head.
“We will extend another invitation to the family. Whether they currently have a recognised family head or not, they must appear before us,” he stated.
Exhumation May Not End the Matter
Traditional leaders also stressed that even if the body were eventually removed from the land, the family would still be required to perform the appropriate rituals to restore spiritual balance.
“Even if the body is removed from the land, the family will still have to pacify the deities of the community and answer the questions we intend to put before them,” Reverend Ankrah explained.
Legacy Overshadowed By Burial Dispute
Daddy Lumba, who died on July 26, 2025, remains one of Ghana’s most influential musicians, credited with shaping modern highlife music over several decades.
However, months after his death, controversies surrounding his burial arrangements and family disputes continue to dominate public discourse, with traditional authorities now expected to determine the next course of action once the family responds to their invitation.
