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Ghana Court Rules Daddy Lumba Didn’t Have a Single Legal Widow, Ending Weeks of High Profile Legal Battle Over Legendary Musician’s Estate

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The estate and legacy of Ghanaian highlife legend Daddy Lumba — born Charles Kwadwo Fosuh — took a dramatic legal turn this week as the Kumasi High Court ruled that two women, not one, are recognized as his surviving spouses.

The ruling ends the claim by one woman that she alone should act as his legal widow and control the rights associated with his death.

Akosua Serwaa Fosuh (L) and Priscilla Ofori (Odo Broni)

⚖️ What the Court Decided

On November 28, 2025, Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur dismissed the application by Akosua Serwaa Fosuh, who argued she was the sole lawful spouse owing to a German civil marriage. The court found she failed to prove the existence of a valid civil marriage in Ghana that could exclude other wives. Instead, it determined her union with Lumba was a customary marriage.

Simultaneously, the court affirmed that Priscilla Ofori — popularly known as “Odo Broni” — is legally recognized under customary law as another wife of the deceased. This grants her the same status as a surviving spouse, with all associated rights.

As a result, the judgment establishes that Akosua Serwaa is not the only surviving spouse — both she and Odo Broni share that status.

Certified copies of the full 74-page judgment are expected to be available on December 1, 2025.

🕊️ What It Means: Funeral Rites and Estate Rights

One immediate consequence of the ruling is clarity over who can perform the final funeral rites: the court handed the family — not any single spouse — the right to determine which wife will carry out the widowhood rites, traditionally important in Ghanaian custom.

Earlier this year, the court had already dismissed an attempt by Akosua Serwaa to enjoin the extended family from proceeding with funeral arrangements. The court ruled that under Ghanaian customary law, the body of a deceased person belongs to the family, not just the spouse — regardless of any civil or customary marriage.

This reaffirmation is crucial: it reflects how Ghana’s courts may apply customary succession and burial laws even when the deceased had marriages registered under foreign civil law, such as the 2004 marriage in Germany between Lumba and Akosua Serwaa.

Daddy Lumba. Image by spicygist via Flickr

📚 Legal Context: Civil vs. Customary Marriage in Ghana

The ruling underscores a key feature of Ghana’s legal system: customary marriages — recognized under tribal or local laws — remain valid and carry weight, even if a foreign civil marriage also exists. But dual marriage raises complex issues, especially if customs and statutory marriage laws conflict.

In this case, the court found Akosua Serwaa failed to offer admissible evidence of a Ghana-recognized civil marriage. The German marriage certificate she presented was challenged for authenticity and translation issues, and thus could not override local customary law.

🔎 Broader Implications

  • Estate and Asset Rights: With two surviving spouses recognized, any inheritance, royalties, and property claims from Lumba’s estate will likely involve both women, not just one.
  • Precedent for Ghana’s Music Community: For families of artists and public figures with international ties, the ruling signals that customary law remains powerful in inheritance and burial disputes — even when foreign marriages exist.
  • Clarity for Cultural Burial Practices: Ghanaian customs around widowhood rites, funeral planning, and ancestral traditions remain relevant, and courts may uphold them over foreign civil documents.

The Kumasi High Court’s decision brings legal clarity in a high-profile, emotionally charged and headlines-dominating case. It balances respect for customary law with the demands of modern civil documentation — affirming that in Ghana, heritage, tradition, and family lineage still carry weight in life and after death.

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  1. Pingback: Final Funeral Rites For Daddy Lumba Face Fresh Court Challenge

  2. Pingback: Manhyia Palace Denies Role in Lumba’s Funeral Preparations

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Ghana News

Ghana News Live Updates: Catch up on all the Breaking News Today (Feb. 17, 2026)

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Stay tuned for real-time stories breaking in Ghana. Return to the page for more stories as they break. (Updated February 17, 2026).


Court Orders Businessman to Pay GH¢200,000 for Breach of Promise to Marry


An Accra Circuit Court has ordered a businessman to pay GH¢200,000 in damages to a woman for breach of promise to marry after he failed to fulfil his commitment following a long-term relationship. The ruling, delivered February 14, 2026, followed evidence that the defendant had repeatedly assured the plaintiff of marriage, including family introductions and public engagements, before abruptly ending the relationship without justification. The court found the breach caused emotional distress and financial loss to the plaintiff. The case highlights ongoing legal recognition of breach of promise claims in Ghanaian courts.
Read the full story here

Late Frafra Queen Mother’s Grave Exhumed in Asante Mampong – Head Reportedly Chopped Off
The grave of the late Queen Mother of the Frafra community in Asante Mampong has been exhumed, with reports indicating her head was severed and removed. The incident, discovered on February 14, 2026, has shocked the traditional leadership and community, who suspect ritual or malicious intent. Police have launched an investigation, and chiefs have called for calm while traditional rites are performed to restore peace. The desecration has raised serious concerns about grave security and cultural respect in the Ashanti Region.
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COCOBOD Announces Salary Cuts, Cost Controls as Revenue Pressures Mount
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has introduced salary reductions for senior management and broad cost-control measures to address mounting revenue shortfalls and legacy debt. The February 14, 2026, announcement follows emergency Cabinet directives to stabilise the sector, with COCOBOD citing declining global cocoa prices, unpaid arrears, and financing constraints. The measures are intended to preserve operational capacity and ensure continuity of farmer payments and purchasing activities.
Read the full story here

Mahama Govt Has Made No Real Impact After One Year in Office – Afenyo-Markin
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has criticised the Mahama administration, stating that after one year in office, the government has failed to deliver tangible improvements in the lives of Ghanaians. In a February 14, 2026, address, he accused the NDC of recycling old policies, failing to address cost-of-living pressures, and lacking innovation in job creation and economic recovery. The Minority called for urgent results on the “Reset Ghana” promises made during the 2024 campaign.
Read the full story here

Mahama Rallies Fellow World Leaders to Support Accra Reset
President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to African and global leaders to support Ghana’s “Reset” agenda during his address at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. On February 13, 2026, he outlined the initiative’s focus on governance renewal, economic transformation, anti-corruption measures, and regional cooperation, urging the AU to back Ghana’s efforts as a model for continental progress. Mahama also reiterated Ghana’s push for AfCFTA acceleration and debt relief mechanisms.
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Tony Aidoo Urges NDC to Focus on Policy Communication, Not Personal Praise for Mahama
Veteran NDC member Tony Aidoo has cautioned the party against excessive personal praise for President John Dramani Mahama, urging a shift toward clear policy communication and results. In comments on February 13, 2026, Aidoo said the focus should be on explaining the “Reset Ghana” agenda and delivering measurable outcomes rather than individual glorification. He emphasised that strong policy messaging will sustain public support more effectively than personality-driven narratives.
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Ghana News

Newspaper Headlines Today: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

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Happy Monday! Stay informed with today’s front pages of Ghanaian newspapers, all in one place. Newspapers for February 17, 2026.

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Ghana News

Russian Embassy Criticized for “Empty” Statement on Viral Exploitation Videos involving Citizen

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The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ghana has issued a brief statement in the wake of widespread public anger and social media uproar over allegations that Russian nationals are luring young Ghanaian women into filmed sexual encounters for online distribution without consent.

The release posted on X on February 16, 2026, fails to condemn the alleged exploitation, non-consensual recording, and distribution of intimate material by its nationals.

“The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Ghana has taken note of the reports in the Ghanaian media on the alleged involvement of a supposedly Russian citizen engaged in sexual activities with some Ghanaian women and recorded those acts without consent,” the post read.

The response comes after days of viral outrage on X, TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp groups, where screenshots, testimonies, and alleged links to explicit content prompted hashtags such as #ProtectGhanaianWomen and #StopTheRussianScheme.

MP Sam George, chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection, has announced Ghana’s intent to pursue extradition if the primary suspect.

Responses on X

Responses to the post have been stronly worded. One person posted:

“Never trust those Russian scum. They throw African men into their war as cannon fodder & treat African women like disposable sex toys. Pure racist evil. Predators, not partners. WAKE UP AFRICA.”

Another asked:

“Any action taken?”

Another asked:

“So after taking the note, what next?”

Ghanaian authorities have disclosed they will pursue extradition proceedings against the man, said to have left Ghana.

The decision was announced by Member of Parliament Sam George on February 13, 2026, following weeks of public outrage over the alleged scheme.

According to Sam George — who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection — the suspect is believed to be a Russian national who used dating apps and social media to target young Ghanaian women, particularly students and professionals in Accra and other urban centres.

Victims were reportedly lured with promises of money, gifts or relationships, only to discover later that explicit videos were uploaded to adult websites and shared in private groups, often leading to blackmail, humiliation and threats.

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