Court adjourns Akosua Serwaa's case against Lumba family to October 28

A High Court in Kumasi has adjourned to October 28, 2025, a case involving Akosua Serwaa, the wife of late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, who is seeking a declaration that she is the only surviving spouse legally entitled to perform widowhood rites at his upcoming funeral.

The celebrated musician, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, passed away on July 26, 2025, with final funeral rites scheduled for December 6, 2025, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. However, the planned event now hangs in the balance due to the ongoing family dispute over marital recognition and funeral rights.

In her application, Akosua Serwaa has sued Kofi Owusu Fosu, the head of Daddy Lumba’s external family, and Priscilla Ofori, popularly known as “Odo Broni”, challenging their role in organising the funeral and claiming that she has been excluded from key decisions despite being the legally wedded wife.

During proceedings on Thursday, October 16, lawyers for the defendants informed the court that they had filed an objection challenging Serwaa’s legal capacity to bring the action. The presiding judge, Her Ladyship Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur, however, declined to hear the objection, ruling that the issue was not yet formally before the court.

The plaintiff’s counsel argued that the day’s business was to move an injunction application already filed. After hearing both sides, the judge adjourned the case and encouraged the parties to resolve the matter amicably, while noting that the case would receive priority if it proceeds to hearing.

Counsel for the defendants notified the court of a conditional appearance motion pending the substantive case. The judge directed all parties to file their responses within 14 days.

Plaintiff’s lawyer, William Kusi, expressed optimism that the matter would be resolved before the scheduled funeral, warning that any prolonged litigation could disrupt the event.

Akosua Serwaa contends that her marriage to Daddy Lumba was valid and subsisting at the time of his death and that she and her children were not consulted before the funeral date was publicly announced.

She alleges that Odo Broni has falsely presented herself as the musician’s widow and that the family head has wrongfully supported her claim by planning to allow her to perform the widowhood rites — a role traditionally reserved for the legal spouse.

Serwaa insists that unless the court intervenes, she will be unjustly denied her rightful place as the only recognised wife of the late musician.