Court Declares Both Women As Legitimate Widows Of Daddy Lumba

The long-running legal battle over the estate and funeral rites of the late highlife icon Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, who passed away on July 26, 2025, came to a conclusion in Kumasi on Friday, November 28.

The Kumasi High Court delivered its ruling, emphasizing that peace should prevail, noting that Daddy Lumba himself was known as a peaceful man. The court therefore declared that both women—Akosua Serwaa and Priscilla Ofori (popularly called Odo Broni)—are legally recognized as his wives and, consequently, as widows.

Following the musician’s death, a heated public and legal dispute broke out between the two women over who qualified as the legitimate widow with the right to perform the traditional Akan widowhood rites (ayieɛ) at his funeral. The outcome carried significant implications for inheritance, funeral arrangements, and family recognition under both Ghanaian civil and customary law.

Plaintiff:
Akosua Serwaa Fosu, regarded as the first wife, filed the suit on October 3, 2025, seeking a declaration that she was the late musician’s sole legally wedded spouse, relying on a 1990 civil marriage certificate presented to the court. She also requested an injunction to prevent the second wife from claiming spousal status or participating in funeral rites.

Defendants:
Priscilla Ofori (Odo Broni), the second wife; Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu, family head of the Ekuona clan in Parkoso, Kumasi; and Transitions Funeral Home, which is overseeing the funeral arrangements.

Witnesses—including the musician’s sister, Ernestina Fosu, and Manhyia Palace traditional expert Osei Sarfo Kantanka—testified on issues relating to marriage customs, allegations of divorce, and the nature of the relationships. Although Akosua Serwaa submitted original marriage documents, the defendants challenged their authenticity and argued that the marriage had ended before a customary union was performed with Odo Broni in 2010.

During proceedings, the presiding judge, Her Ladyship Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur, noted the complexities that arise when civil (ordinance) and customary marriages intersect, remarking pointedly that combining the two systems could sometimes be “a waste.”

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Originally scheduled for November 25, the judgement was postponed to November 28.

The final ruling represents a significant blend of civil and customary law. Under the decision, Akosua Serwaa retains civil spousal rights—such as inheritance under the Intestate Succession Act—while Odo Broni receives recognition for traditional marital and ritual claims. This dual acknowledgment could lead to shared responsibilities in the funeral arrangements, helping to prevent further conflict within the family.

The case may set an important precedent for future disputes involving celebrities and individuals whose relationships straddle both customary and civil marriage systems in Ghana.