The Accra High Court has issued an injunction requested by the maternal family of the late musician Daddy Lumba, preventing the first respondent, Kofi Owusu, who is the family head (Abusuapanyin), from organizing his burial.
Additionally, the court has prohibited the third respondent, Transitions Funeral Home, from releasing the body until the main issue is resolved.
In its decision, the court observed that the affidavits presented indicated that the immediate family had been excluded from the funeral arrangements and highlighted the importance of evaluating the merits of the case.
The judge recognized that postponing the burial could result in higher expenses but stressed that due process and appropriate family involvement must be upheld.
While confirming that the family head possesses the authority to oversee funeral preparations, the court ruled that this authority should be exercised in consultation with the immediate family.
The court then instructed the first respondent to organize a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to establish a new burial date.
Furthermore, it mandated that all funds collected for the funeral be kept separate from the accounts of the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation. The applicants were directed to submit an affidavit to the court registrar.
This case arises from conflicts that emerged following Daddy Lumba’s passing on July 26, 2025, at the age of 60. A disagreement between his maternal relatives and the family head regarding who should oversee the funeral and the management of funds intensified, reflecting enduring Akan traditions that bestow considerable authority to the maternal lineage in burial affairs.
