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LIVESTREAMED: Daddy Lumba’s Funeral Successfully Held as Thousands Pay Last Respects to a Legend at Baba Yara Stadium

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The long national farewell to Ghana’s highlife icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosu—known across Africa and the diaspora as Daddy Lumba—reached its emotional peak on Saturday, December 13, 2025, as thousands of mourners converged on the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi for his final burial and funeral rites.

The massive turnout, which includes senior government officials, traditional rulers, musicians, and fans from across the world, marks the close of a months-long period of uncertainty and legal wrangling that at several points threatened to halt the funeral altogether.

Court Ruling Clears the Way

The funeral is proceeding only after a tense, last-minute legal resolution at the Accra High Court on Friday, December 12.

Maternal relatives of the late musician had sought an injunction to stop the burial, arguing that they were sidelined in planning arrangements led by the family head, Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu. While the court initially granted the injunction, it attached a decisive condition: the applicants were ordered to deposit GH¢2 million to cover costs already incurred should the funeral be cancelled.

When the applicants failed to meet the court’s deadline for payment, the injunction lapsed, effectively clearing the way for the funeral to go ahead as scheduled.

Reacting to the ruling, lead counsel for the defendants, Dominic Osei, described the decision as a necessary relief.

He noted that prolonged litigation over a deceased loved one only deepens pain and urged Ghanaians to set aside differences and attend the funeral to honour Daddy Lumba’s enduring legacy.

Custom, Law, and Family Tensions

Beyond the courtroom, the dispute reignited public debate about the intersection of Ghana’s statutory legal system and Akan customary law, which traditionally vests authority over funeral rites in the maternal family. The case underscored how cultural norms, modern law, and celebrity status can collide—sometimes painfully—when a national icon passes.

Inside the Stadium: A Nation in Mourning

By mid-morning, the Baba Yara Sports Stadium had been transformed into a solemn but majestic sea of black and red.

Tens of thousands of mourners filled the stands and pitch area, reflecting Daddy Lumba’s extraordinary reach across generations and social divides. The casket bearing the body of the “Highlife King” lay in state, allowing the public to pay their final respects.

Traditional dirges echoed through the stadium, interwoven with emotional renditions of Lumba’s timeless songs, including Yentie Obiaa, which many mourners sang softly, some in tears. Fellow musicians—many of whom credit him as a mentor—stood shoulder to shoulder with fans who grew up with his music as the soundtrack to their lives.

A Musical Legacy Spanning Three Decades

Born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, Daddy Lumba’s influence on Ghanaian music is both vast and enduring.

He began his career in the late 1980s as part of the Lumba Brothers before launching a solo journey that produced more than 30 albums and countless hits. His music was celebrated for its lyrical range—moving seamlessly from love and heartbreak to spirituality, social commentary, and political reflection.

Equally significant was his role in shaping Burger Highlife, fusing traditional Ghanaian rhythms with modern European studio techniques. That sound would go on to influence an entire generation of artistes and redefine contemporary highlife.

A National Farewell

Saturday’s funeral is more than a family ceremony. It is a national moment of reckoning with the loss of one of Ghana’s most gifted and influential cultural figures—an artiste whose songs narrated everyday life and whose voice became inseparable from the country’s modern musical identity.

After the public service at the stadium, Daddy Lumba’s body will be moved for private interment, bringing final rest to a man whose life—and even his death—commanded national attention.

For Ghana and its global community, the farewell at Baba Yara Stadium stands as a reminder that Daddy Lumba was not just a musician, but a cultural institution whose legacy will long outlive the final notes sung in his honour.

Ghana News

Ex-President Akufo-Addo and President Mahama Exchange Pleasantries on Easter

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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.

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Ghana News

Mahama Calls Christ’s Birthplace an ‘Epicentre of War’, New Airport Concourse Planned and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Ghana President Convenes Emergency Cabinet Meeting to Cushion Ghanaians from Soaring Fuel Prices

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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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