Court Imposes GH¢2m Condition as Daddy Lumba’s Funeral Hangs in the Balance
Court’s new GH¢2m directive puts fate of highlife icon’s December 13 funeral in jeopardy
- Court orders applicants to pay GH¢2m by 2 p.m. or allow the December 13 funeral to proceed.
- Applicants argue the directive is unlawful and impossible to meet within the short deadline.
- Respondents claim over GH¢5m in costs and urge immediate release of the body if payment is not made.
The dispute over the burial of highlife legend Daddy Lumba has escalated following a new directive from the Accra High Court. The court has ordered the musician’s maternal family—the applicants in the case—to deposit GH¢2 million by 2:00 p.m. today or allow the funeral to take place on Saturday, December 13, as originally planned.
According to the court, the sum is meant to cover funeral expenses already incurred, should the burial later be halted when the substantive case is concluded.
This latest order follows an earlier injunction that prevented family head Kofi Owusu from organising the funeral and instructed Transitions Funeral Home not to release the body.
Applicants Reject Court’s New Order
The applicants’ lawyers pushed back strongly against the directive, insisting the court had no jurisdiction to alter its initial interlocutory orders without a proper motion and service. They pointed out that the injunction was only issued this morning around 10:00 a.m., and no new application had been filed or served to justify the change.
They also emphasised that securing GH¢2 million in under two hours was unrealistic and logistically impossible.
The applicants requested that the earlier orders remain unchanged and argued that any financial obligations should only take effect after the final ruling. They proposed instead to sign an undertaking, as the court had previously indicated.
Their lawyers further cautioned that the sudden adjustment could create public confusion and make it appear as though there had been new developments since the morning ruling.
Respondents Call for Even Greater Payment
Lawyers for the respondents disputed the objections, maintaining that huge costs had already been incurred—from invitations sent to dignitaries to payments made to contractors preparing for the funeral. They argued that GH¢2 million is inadequate, urging the court to increase the amount to over GH¢5 million.
“It is only fair that the applicants put their money where their heart and mind is,” counsel stated, describing the directive as reasonable and necessary for both sides to protect their interests.
The respondents also asked the court to shorten the payment timeline and direct Transitions Funeral Home to release the body immediately if the applicants fail to comply, subject to the payment of outstanding fees.
They further sought clarification on the status of the Daddy Lumba LBG Foundation account, reminding the court of its earlier order to separate funeral proceeds from the foundation’s funds.
Court’s Final Position
In its ruling, the court clarified that no order had been made regarding the Daddy Lumba LBG Foundation or the second respondent.
However, it stated firmly that if the applicants do not pay the GH¢2 million by the deadline, Transitions Funeral Home must release the body, allowing the funeral to proceed while ensuring that all pending fees are settled.
The court’s decision effectively sets a strict condition: pay the GH¢2 million now, or the funeral goes on this weekend.
