Court rules Akosua Serwaa not sole surviving spouse of Daddy Lumba

A Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice Dorinda Smith‑Arthur, has ruled that Akosua Serwaa Fosuh cannot be declared the sole surviving spouse of the late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, as the evidence presented did not prove her claim beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case arose from a dispute over which widow was lawfully entitled to perform widowhood rites following Daddy Lumba’s death.

During proceedings on Friday, November 28, evidence showed that Priscilla Ofori, popularly known as Odo Broni, was customarily married to Daddy Lumba before his passing. The court also acknowledged that Akosua Serwaa was customarily married to him but rejected a purported German marriage certificate presented as proof of a civil marriage, noting that the document was an extract, not an original certificate.

Justice Smith‑Arthur ruled that both Akosua Serwaa and Odo Broni should be recognised as surviving wives of Daddy Lumba and must be acknowledged by the Abusuapanyin in the performance of the widowhood rites. The judge stressed that there should be no hindrance to the removal and burial of the late musician.

Earlier, the court had dismissed Akosua Serwaa’s injunction application aimed at blocking funeral arrangements in favour of the extended family, highlighting that under Ghanaian customary law, the body and burial rites of a deceased belong to the matrilineal family.