BY Daniel Bampoe
A pressure group calling itself Team Legal Wives and Husbands (Justice is Not for Sale) has mounted a passionate public defence of Akosua Serwaa Fosuh, the first wife of the late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, accusing elements within the legal and traditional systems of enabling what they describe as a calculated effort to erase her marital rights and legacy.
At a press conference addressed to the media, the judiciary, state authorities, and the Ghanaian public, the coalition—made up of self-described ordinary professionals, parents, and citizens—said it had been compelled to speak out because the ongoing estate battle surrounding Daddy Lumba’s death represents more than a family disagreement, but rather a troubling test case for the justice system.
The group opened with strong appeals to journalists, describing the media as the “Fourth Estate” and a critical pillar in protecting truth in an environment where narratives can be manipulated.
They stressed they are neither politicians nor direct litigants in the matter, but citizens who believe the case exposes deeper issues of procedural injustice, evidential disregard, and alleged bias in the courts.
According to the coalition, the treatment of Akosua Serwaa Fosuh—who they insist is Daddy Lumba’s lawful wife—raises fundamental questions about the sanctity of marriage, inheritance protections, and judicial integrity in Ghana.
Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, was portrayed by the group not only as a musical icon but as a man whose international success was built alongside his wife Akosua Serwaa.
They argued that her contributions were foundational to his rise from Nsuta in the Ashanti Region to becoming one of Ghana’s most celebrated highlife exports.
The coalition stated that the couple married customarily in 1991 in Kumasi Bomsu, and later formalised their union under German civil law on December 23, 2004, in Bornheim, Germany—creating what they described as a monogamous, internationally recognised marriage.
The group further claimed that Akosua Serwaa played a key professional and personal role in Daddy Lumba’s career, including supporting the early success of the “Lumba Brothers” era in Germany and helping finance music production during the Burger Highlife boom.
They alleged that despite marital difficulties and repeated infidelity, Akosua Serwaa continued to maintain the household, raise their children, and contribute financially—working long hours in Germany to sustain mortgages and family responsibilities while Lumba pursued his career across continents.
A significant portion of the statement was devoted to challenging narratives that Mrs. Fosuh “abandoned” the late musician.
The coalition argued instead that she was left in Germany to care for their children when Daddy Lumba decided to remain in Ghana around 2012–2013, following health concerns and planned surgery arrangements abroad.
They insisted she continued to provide medical and financial support, including purchasing medications, and referenced a widely circulated video in which Daddy Lumba allegedly defended her against rumours that she had poisoned him.
The coalition reserved its harshest criticism for Priscilla Ofori, popularly known as Odo Broni, whom they accused of exploiting the situation through what they described as identity inconsistencies, contradictory legal claims, and the diversion of property.
They pointed to alleged discrepancies in her documented birth dates and marital declarations, claiming that while she asserts a customary marriage with Daddy Lumba dating back to 2010, official records—including a reported British visa application—listed her as “single” as recently as 2025.
The group argued that such contradictions strike at the heart of her credibility.
They further alleged that properties jointly developed by Daddy Lumba and Akosua Serwaa—such as homes at Tantra Hills, Dome, and East Legon—have been unlawfully distributed to Priscilla Ofori’s relatives, including her twin brother.
They also claimed that Daddy Lumba’s radio station and other business ventures have become occupied by members of Priscilla’s family, describing this as a systematic takeover of a legacy built within the Fosuh marriage.
The statement revisited the intense courtroom battles that erupted after Daddy Lumba’s death in July 2025. The coalition said Mrs. Fosuh filed a suit at the Kumasi High Court in October 2025 seeking declarations that she was the only surviving spouse with the sole right to perform widowhood rites.
However, Priscilla Ofori counterclaimed that she too was customarily married to the late musician. In a ruling delivered on November 28, 2025, the court recognised both women as surviving spouses, rejecting Akosua Serwaa’s German marriage certificate on what the coalition described as “hyper-technical” evidential grounds.
They contrasted the court’s dismissal of the German civil marriage documents with its acceptance of oral testimony supporting Priscilla Ofori’s customary marriage claim, describing this as “evidential asymmetry.”
The group also highlighted a separate injunction filed in Accra in December 2025, when funeral arrangements were contested.
They noted that although the court briefly restrained certain burial actions and ordered financial separation of funeral funds from the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation accounts, the injunction was later lifted after the family reportedly could not meet a GH¢2 million deposit condition.
In a sweeping conclusion, Team Legal Wives and Husbands described the entire outcome as a blueprint for “inheritance fraud,” accusing the system of legitimising asset diversion, ignoring contradictions, and allowing what they called the unlawful erosion of a lawful wife’s dignity.
They called on the Judicial Council to review the judgment, urged the Attorney-General and police to investigate possible perjury, fraud, and misappropriation of assets, and appealed to the traditional rulers—especially within the Ashanti Kingdom—to intervene in the interest of fairness.
The coalition also issued a strong message to Ghanaians in the diaspora, warning that the case sets a dangerous precedent for citizens who invest abroad but maintain property and family legacies at home.
They appealed to international human rights bodies to observe what they framed as a deprivation of women’s inheritance and marital rights.
Ending on a defiant note, the group pledged to pursue every lawful means to restore Akosua Serwaa Fosuh’s recognition, recover disputed properties, and hold accountable all those they believe have participated in what they described as an orchestrated injustice.
“Truth crushed to earth shall rise again,” the coalition declared, insisting that their campaign has only begun.
