The Accra High Court has granted an injunction requested by the maternal family of the late musician Daddy Lumba.
The injunction prevents the first respondent, Kofi Owusu, the family head (Abusuapanyin), from organising his buria,l which was scheduled for December 13 in the Ashanti region and stops the third respondent (Transitions Funeral Home) from releasing the body from the mortuary until the main case is fully resolved.
In its decision, the court emphasized that each case must be assessed on its merits. It noted, based on the affidavits, that the immediate family had been excluded from the funeral arrangements.
Although the judge acknowledged that delaying the burial could lead to significant costs, he stressed that due process and proper family participation must be respected.
The court reiterated that while the family head has the right to lead funeral arrangements, this must be done in consultation with the immediate family.
As part of its orders, the court instructed the first respondent to hold a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to agree on a new burial date.
It also directed that all funds raised for the funeral be kept separate from the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation account. In addition, the applicants must file an affidavit with the court registrar.
The case stems from disagreements that arose after Daddy Lumba’s death on July 26, 2025, at age 60.
Tensions developed between his maternal relatives and the family head over who should oversee the funeral and how related funds should be managed.
Concerns about exclusion and the handling of funds eventually led the matter to court, underscoring long-standing Akan traditions that assign significant roles to the maternal family in burial decisions.