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

⚖️ 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.

📚 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.
Ghana News
Ex-President Akufo-Addo and President Mahama Exchange Pleasantries on Easter
Kwahu, Ghana – Former President Nana Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama on Holy Saturday, April 4, 2026, while both leaders were in the Kwahu enclave for the annual Easter celebrations.
The meeting took place as President Mahama participated in activities linked to the Kwahu Business Forum, a major event held alongside the Easter festivities.
Akufo-Addo, who has maintained a nearly two-decade tradition of spending Easter in Kwahu, described the visit as a cordial engagement during the sacred period.
In a Facebook post, the former president wrote: “On the Holy Saturday of Easter, while in Kwahu where for almost two decades I have consecutively visited during the sacred period of Easter, I called on the President of the Republic, H. E. John Dramani Mahama who is also in Kwahu.”
The encounter highlights a moment of peaceful political civility between the current and immediate past leaders of Ghana amid the festive season. No further details about the substance of their discussion were made public.
The visit comes at a time when both leaders are actively involved in national and regional development conversations, with Mahama using the Kwahu platform to engage stakeholders on economic matters.
Ghana News
Mahama Calls Christ’s Birthplace an ‘Epicentre of War’, New Airport Concourse Planned and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today
We have curated the most relevant and impactful stories from Ghana to keep you informed.
‘It’s Painful Christ’s Birthplace Now an Epicentre of War’ – President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has described the ongoing violence in the Middle East as a “painful irony,” noting that the birthplace of Christianity and the land where Christ preached love, forgiveness, and peace has become a major centre of conflict. In his Easter message delivered at Black Star Square on April 3, 2026, Mahama said the suffering in the Holy Land cannot be ignored during the season of Easter. He extended Ghana’s thoughts and prayers to the people of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, and the wider Middle East region, urging world leaders to embrace restraint, dialogue, and respect for human dignity.
Read the full story here
Gov’t to Construct New Concourse at Accra International Airport to Ease Congestion
The Ghana Airports Company Limited will begin construction this month on an ultra-modern concourse linking Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport. The project aims to eliminate current operational bottlenecks, enable seamless passenger transfers, and significantly improve hub efficiency. Key features include five additional passenger boarding bridges, five passenger holding areas, bi-directional travelators, new escalators and elevators, a VIP lounge, four business lounges, and four retail and duty-free pods. The expansion forms part of a broader modernisation drive to provide world-class facilities and strengthen Ghana’s position as a competitive aviation hub in West Africa.
Read the full story here
Gov’t Procures Over 24,000 Medical Equipment to Support Free Primary Healthcare Rollout
The Ghanaian government has acquired 24,534 pieces of medical equipment to strengthen health facilities ahead of the nationwide rollout of its free primary healthcare policy. The consignment, inspected by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, includes baby incubators, radiant warmers, oxygen concentrators, X-ray machines, ultrasound devices, laboratory analysers, vital signs monitors, glucometers, patient monitors, infusion devices, delivery beds, and hospital beds. The equipment will be distributed across government hospitals to improve diagnostics, newborn care, and overall service delivery at the primary level.
Read the full story here
Ghana to Manufacture First Vaccine with Support from Indonesia
Ghana is set to begin local production of its first vaccine with technical and partnership support from the Indonesian government. Honorary Consul of Indonesia to Ghana, Paskal A B Rois, confirmed that a high-level delegation from Ghana’s National Vaccine Institute, Food and Drugs Authority, and GIZ visited Indonesia late last year to finalise arrangements. Once operational, Ghana will become the third African country — after Senegal and South Africa — to manufacture vaccines domestically. The initiative is expected to enhance the country’s health security and reduce dependence on imported vaccines.
Read the full story here
No Business Thrives Without Trust in Justice System — Chief Justice
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has emphasised that trust in the judicial system is essential for business growth and investor confidence in Ghana. Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum on April 4, 2026, he stated that contracts must be honoured, property protected, and disputes resolved fairly and predictably for any economy to flourish. The Chief Justice announced that the judiciary is repositioning itself to become an active partner in creating a business-friendly environment anchored in the rule of law. He warned that delays and uncertainty in the justice system carry real economic costs by discouraging investment.
Read the full story here
Ghana News
Ghana President Convenes Emergency Cabinet Meeting to Cushion Ghanaians from Soaring Fuel Prices
President John Dramani Mahama has convened an emergency cabinet meeting to address the sharp rise in fuel prices caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly the escalation involving Iran.
Speaking on Saturday, April 4, 2026, during the second day of the Kwahu Business Forum, President Mahama stated that the meeting will focus on practical interventions to ease the burden on citizens.
He specifically mentioned the possibility of adjustments in fuel margins and other components of the price build-up to help keep prices relatively stable while hoping for de-escalation of the conflict.
“I have called for this emergency cabinet meeting to decide on specific measures we can take to cushion petroleum prices,” Mahama said. “There are adjustments we can make, particularly in the margins, to help maintain relatively stable prices as we pray for the war to cease.”
The President assured Ghanaians that the government remains committed to protecting the economy from external shocks and has taken steps to build resilience.
“I can confidently tell you that the economy will not collapse because of the war in Iran,” he stated.
Mahama also commended transport unions for showing restraint by not immediately increasing lorry fares despite the fuel price surge.
He urged them to continue exercising patience as the government works on relief measures. Fuel prices rose significantly effective April 1, 2026, with petrol increasing to approximately GH¢13.30 per liter (a 15% hike) and diesel to GH¢17.10 per liter (a 19% hike) for the first half of April.
The government is reviewing options including reductions in margins and levies to provide relief to consumers.
This latest development highlights the direct link between global geopolitical tensions and domestic living costs in Ghana, as the government balances immediate relief with longer-term economic stability.
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