The Accra High Court has granted an injunction sought by the maternal family of the late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, restraining the first respondent, Kofi Owusu the family head (Abusuapanyin) from organising his burial, which had been scheduled for this weekend in the Ashanti Region.

The court also restrained the third respondent, Transitions Funeral Home, from releasing the body until the substantive case is fully resolved.

In its ruling, the court observed that affidavits before it indicated the immediate family had been excluded from the funeral arrangements, stressing the need to consider the merits of the case before any burial proceeds. The judge acknowledged that postponing the funeral could result in additional costs but emphasised the importance of due process and proper involvement of the relevant family members.

Although the court affirmed that the family head has the authority to lead funeral preparations, it held that this authority must be exercised in consultation with the immediate family.

The court further directed the first respondent to convene a stakeholder meeting within three weeks to determine a new burial date. It also ordered that all funds raised for the funeral be separated from the accounts of the Daddy Lumba Memorial Foundation. Additionally, the applicants were instructed to file an affidavit with the court registrar.

The case arises from disputes following Daddy Lumba’s death on July 26, 2025, at age 60. A conflict between his maternal relatives and the family head over who should lead the funeral arrangements and how funds should be managed escalated, reflecting longstanding Akan customs that grant the maternal lineage significant authority in burial matters.