BY Grace Zigah
The Kumasi High Court became the scene of raw emotion on Wednesday when Ernestina Fosuh, elder sister of the late highlife icon Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, broke down in tears during a tense cross-examination.
The ongoing legal battle, which seeks to determine whether Akosua Serwaa Fosuh is the lawful wife of the deceased musician, has deepened long-standing family tensions and revived old questions about Lumba’s private life.
The highly charged court proceedings, presided over by Justice Dorinda Smith-Arthur, were briefly suspended when Ernestina—also known as Akosua Brempomaah—became visibly overwhelmed. Court officials offered her water as she composed herself before the cross-examination resumed.
Her emotional breakdown followed a question from counsel for the second defendant, Priscilla Ofori, popularly known as Odo Broni, who is also contesting her place in the late musician’s life.
Odo Broni’s lawyer, quizzed Akosua Brempomaah, who had earlier told the court her late brother confided in her about ‘almost everything,’ about whether she got to know why Daddy Lumba named his first son with Akosua Serwaa Fosuh, Calvyn Schindler, and not after himself or any other family member.
When cross-examination resumed, Ernestina Fosuh told the court her brother, Daddy Lumba, relocated to Ghana from his German base in 2013, and anytime she visited Ghana every six months, she would lodge at the musician’s Tantra Hills residence.
According to her, she met the second defendant, Odo Broni, for the first time when the latter gave birth to her son, Junior.
She said she got to know the late musician, and Priscilla Ofori had a second child five months later.
That child, she told the court, was named after her late mother, Amma Saah.
The Case
The legal dispute stems from a suit filed by Akosua Serwaa, who insists she is the legitimate wife of Daddy Lumba and therefore the one entitled to perform his widowhood rites and make decisions regarding his funeral and estate.
The case has drawn national attention, particularly after disagreements between Serwaa and members of Lumba’s family emerged publicly following his death.
Earlier efforts by Akosua Serwaa to secure an injunction to halt Lumba’s funeral—scheduled for December 13—were dismissed by the court on grounds of convenience, allowing the family to proceed with burial arrangements while the marriage case continues.
Family Conflicts Laid Bare In Court
During her testimony, Ernestina painted a vivid picture of her close relationship with her late brother, describing herself as someone he confided in “about almost everything.”
She traced her interactions with the second defendant, Odo Broni, saying she first met her when she gave birth to her son, Junior.
She also disclosed that Lumba and Odo Broni had two children together, one named after their late mother, Amma Saah, who died nearly 24 years ago.
When asked whether their late mother ever saw the child named in her honour, Ernestina tearfully explained that the musician’s partner delivered the child long after their mother’s death.
She emphasized that she had taken up the role of the family’s maternal figure, a position Lumba deeply respected.
Ernestina also confirmed that Lumba and Odo Broni lost one of their children years ago, but maintained that her brother remained committed to his responsibilities towards all his children.
According to her, the musician registered three of his children at his Tantra Hills residence and another three at his East Legon home.
Central Issues
Two critical matters lie at the heart of the ongoing trial:
1. Whether Daddy Lumba performed in-law funeral rites—known in Akan tradition as Nseyie—at the funeral of Akosua Serwaa’s mother.
Ernestina insisted that her brother attended the funeral with family members and that video evidence exists to support this fact.
She rejected suggestions that Lumba neglected these customary obligations.
2. Whether Lumba and Akosua Serwaa were legally or customarily married before his death.
According to the defence, the couple’s relationship collapsed long before the musician’s passing, suggesting that Serwaa had returned the customary “Ti Nsa” (head drink), meaning the marriage had been dissolved.
Ernestina firmly refuted this, insisting she would have been the first to know if her brother had ended the marriage.
She further argued that Serwaa continues to hold German health insurance and labour cards reserved for married couples, indicating the marriage remained intact.
Expert Testimony
The court also heard from a subpoenaed witness, Osei Bonsu Kantanka, from the Manhyia Palace, who appeared to clarify Asante customs regarding marriage and funeral rites—elements central to determining the validity of the alleged marriage.
The hearing has been adjourned to Friday as the court continues to sift through emotional testimonies, cultural interpretations, and conflicting narratives.
Justice Smith-Arthur is expected to accelerate proceedings, with a final ruling anticipated before Lumba’s scheduled funeral on December 13.
