Ghana woke up this weekend to major developments in what was supposed to be the final funeral rites for legendary highlife musician Daddy Lumba (Charles Kwadwo Fosuh) — a cultural icon whose music shaped generations across Ghana and beyond after he died on 26 July 2025 at age 60. 

Plans were well underway for his final funeral celebration, scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi — a fitting venue for a legend of his stature. Preparations were visibly in full swing, with tents, chairs and equipment already at the site. 

However, just hours before the ceremony, the story dramatically changed.

 Court Steps In — Funeral Halted

On Friday, December 12, the Accra High Court granted an injunction filed by Daddy Lumba’s maternal relatives, halting all funeral plans and preventing the release of his body from the mortuary. 

According to the court’s ruling, while the family head (Abusuapanyin) traditionally leads funeral arrangements, that authority must be exercised in consultation with the immediate family — something the court found had not properly happened in this case. 

The judge also ordered that:

        •       A stakeholders’ meeting must be convened within three weeks to agree on a new burial date,

        •       All funds already raised must be kept separate from the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation account,

        •       Applicants (the maternal family members) had to file an affidavit with the court registrar. 

This ruling effectively brought preparations to a halt, throwing the scheduled December 13 funeral into uncertainty. 

The Next Twist — Money or Funeral?

Later on Friday, the court issued a new order saying the plaintiffs who sought to block the funeral must pay GH¢2 million by 2:00 p.m. the same day. This payment was meant to cover costs already incurred in funeral preparations if the ceremony was blocked permanently — a kind of financial guarantee. 

When the maternal family failed to make that payment, the injunction was effectively lifted. As a result, the court cleared the way for the funeral to go on as planned on Saturday, December 13, 2025. 

Lawyers for the family head confirmed that the deadline was missed, meaning the order stopping the burial was removed and preparations could resume. 

 Why All the Dispute?

The whole saga isn’t just about a date — it reflects deep disagreements within Daddy Lumba’s family over:

        •       Who should lead the arrangements

        •       Whether all family members were properly included

        •       Allegations about funeral funds and financial transparency

        •       Broader tensions around tradition, authority and family rights. 

Earlier in the dispute, relatives even went to the Manhyia Palace (Ashanti Kingdom’s seat) seeking traditional intervention, leading the Palace to publicly distance itself from the conflict and say it is not part of funeral decisions. 

In the background, there have also been legal actions and debates around widowhood rites and recognition of surviving spouses — issues that were already unfolding in courts in late 2025. 

 What This Means Today

        •        Daddy Lumba’s funeral is now expected to go ahead on December 13, 2025, after the injunction was lifted because the plaintiffs missed the GH¢2 million deadline. 

        •        Preparations can resume at Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi after being paused. 

        •        The broader legal and family dispute hasn’t evaporated — there are still unresolved tensions about roles, rights and funeral leadership. 

 In Summary

Daddy Lumba’s funeral journey shows how beloved public figures can inspire both love and complex disputes in their passing. What should have been a time to celebrate his life became a legal and cultural debate about tradition, family authority and respect. For now, though, it looks like Ghana’s music legend will be laid to rest on the date originally planned — if all goes as the court has now allowed.