The Accra High Court has granted an injunction filed by the maternal family of the late musician Daddy Lumba, preventing Kofi Owusu, the family head (Abusuapanyin), from proceeding with funeral arrangements.

The court also barred Transitions Funeral Home, the third respondent, from releasing Daddy Lumba’s body until the substantive dispute is resolved.

In its ruling, the court noted that affidavits indicated the immediate family had been excluded from key funeral decisions and stressed the importance of considering the merits of the case. While acknowledging that postponing the burial could increase costs, the judge emphasised that due process and proper family involvement must be upheld.

Although the family head traditionally has the authority to lead funeral preparations, the court clarified that such authority must be exercised in consultation with the deceased’s immediate family.

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

The dispute follows the death of Daddy Lumba on July 26, 2025, at age 60. Tensions between his maternal relatives and the family head over funeral leadership and fund management reflect long-standing Akan customs, which grant significant authority to the maternal lineage in burial matters.