BY Grace Zigah
The long-running tensions within the family of the late highlife icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosu popularly called Daddy Lumba, escalated dramatically this week after Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu, the head of the wider Ekuona royal family of Parkoso, publicly invited Ghanaians to attend the singer’s scheduled December 13 funeral—despite a pending lawsuit from Daddy Lumba’s immediate relatives seeking to block the event altogether.
The new controversy adds to a growing series of disputes surrounding the musician’s death and burial plans, widening the divide between the direct maternal family and the extended Abusuapanin-led faction.
A Funeral Divided Since July 2025
Daddy Lumba passed away on July 26, 2025, but his burial has been threatened by continuous disagreements over authority, legitimacy, and family hierarchy.
Shortly after his death, Lumba’s immediate maternal family—including his elder sister Ernestina Fosuh (Akosua Brimpomaa), uncle Wofa Yaw Poku, grandaunt Obaapanyin Afia Adomah, and others—accused Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu of hijacking funeral preparations without their involvement.
This group insists they are the direct traditional custodians of Lumba’s remains and must approve every burial decision.
Months of negotiations failed, resulting in multiple legal filings and public confrontations.
Immediate Family Files Two Legal Actions to Stop Funeral
On December 3, the immediate family filed a new law suit at the High Court in Accra seeking to freeze all funeral arrangements and halt the release of the musician’s body.
The plaintiffs—Afia Adomah Pakoso, Wofa Yaw Poku, Georgina Gyamfi, Ernestina Fosuh, and Nana Afia Kobi—are demanding:
An injunction blocking Transitions Funeral Home from releasing Lumba’s body to anyone without their explicit consent.
A freeze on the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation account at CAL Bank, alleging unauthorized withdrawals by Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu.
A removal of signatories appointed by a dissolved funeral committee.
A perpetual injunction preventing Abusuapanin or any associates from organizing or participating in Lumba’s final funeral rites.
This legal battle is set for hearing on December 11, just two days before the advertised funeral.
Abusuapanin’s Public Invitation Ignites Online Firestorm
Despite the ongoing legal challenge, a video shared on TikTok on December 7 showed Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu boldly inviting Ghanaians—including public figures and fans—to attend the funeral on December 13.
Standing among supporters, Abusuapanin appealed: “We beg, no one should exclude themselves from this funeral… Come in your numbers to help us give Daddy Lumba a memorable event.”
He thanked all who supported the one-week observance and urged the public to contribute financially, spiritually, and physically.
However, the video only intensified public anger.
Social Media Backlash: “Where Are Lumba’s Wives and Immediate Family?”
Ghanaians reacted sharply, questioning the legitimacy of Abusuapanin’s authority and expressing frustration that neither of the recognized wives—Akosua Serwaa nor Priscilla Ofori aka Odo Broni—nor the maternal family appear to be part of these arrangements.
The backlash follows weeks of tension after Abusuapanin was accused of sidelining the musician’s direct relatives, ignoring their concerns about finances, tradition, and transparency.
Questions Over Legitimacy And Alleged Mismanagement
The immediate family’s lawsuit alleges that Abusuapanin:
Is not a direct relative of Lumba but only the head of the bigger Ekuona family.
Has been managing funeral accounts without proper authorization.
Is using the musician’s death to “claim power he does not traditionally possess.”
They argue that any burial plans made without them are invalid.
The controversy has also intersected with another highly publicized issue—the legal disputes involving Lumba’s wives, following a Kumasi High Court ruling recognizing both women and directing that they be allowed to perform widowhood rites.
The contest between Lumba’s direct family and the Abusuapanin has turned what should have been a period of national mourning into a prolonged public saga filled with lawsuits, accusations, counter-statements, and televised confrontations.
With the funeral date just days away and a court hearing scheduled for December 11, uncertainty hangs over:
Whether the December 13 funeral can legally proceed
Who will ultimately be authorized to receive and bury Lumba
Who controls the funds raised in the musician’s name
Whether the family can present a united front to honor the icon’s legacy
For now, Ghana watches as the funeral of one of its greatest musical sons becomes embroiled in a battle over power, tradition, and truth—leaving the late legend’s final journey still trapped in controversy.
