Akosua Serwaa Fosuh, the Germany-based first wife of the late Ghanaian highlife legend Daddy Lumba (real name Charles Kwadwo Fosuh), filed a lawsuit in October 2025 seeking to be recognized as his only lawful surviving spouse. This would have entitled her exclusively to perform widowhood rites at his funeral, scheduled for December 13, 2025. The case stemmed from a dispute with Daddy Lumba’s extended family and his other customary wife, Priscilla Ofori (known as Odo Broni), over funeral entitlements under Ghanaian customary law.
On November 28, 2025, the Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice Dorinda Smith-Arthur, dismissed her claims. While the court acknowledged that both women were validly married to Daddy Lumba under customary rites, it ruled that Akosua Serwaa could not be declared the sole spouse. Both were directed to be recognized equally in widowhood rites, with the family head (Abusuapanyin) overseeing the process.
Here’s a breakdown of the key reasons for the loss, based on court proceedings and evidence presented:
1. Invalid Marriage Certificate for Ordinance (Civil) Marriage
- Akosua Serwaa claimed she and Daddy Lumba contracted an ordinance marriage in Bornheim, Germany, in 2004, which would supersede customary marriages under Ghanaian law.
- The court rejected the submitted German marriage certificate as inauthentic and insufficient. It was an extract rather than an original document, failing to meet legal evidentiary standards.
- Defense lawyers argued the certificate was fictitious, pointing out inconsistencies like her listed birth name (“Akosua Serwaa Schindler”) not matching her stated name (“Akosua Serwaa”).
2. Photographic Evidence Deemed Unreliable
- Photos purportedly showing the couple’s marriage ceremony were dismissed due to the risk of digital manipulation or editing, especially in the era of advanced technology.
- The judge emphasized that such evidence did not prove the ordinance marriage “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
3. No Proof of Odo Broni’s Marriage Dissolution
- Evidence suggested Odo Broni remained a valid customary wife, including her performance of in-law rites (Nseyie) at Daddy Lumba’s mother’s funeral.
- A letter from a law firm implying Akosua Serwaa had threatened divorce proceedings was ruled irrelevant, as it did not confirm any actual divorce or dissolution of Odo Broni’s marriage.
- Defense counsel also alleged a “head drink” (a customary token) had been returned, signaling the end of Akosua Serwaa’s marriage, though her side denied this.
4. Prior Dismissal of Injunction Application
- Earlier, on October 28, 2025, the court quashed Akosua Serwaa’s injunction to halt funeral preparations, citing a “balance of convenience” that favored the family’s right to proceed with burial rites. Under customary law, the deceased’s body and rites belong to the matrilineal family, not individual spouses.
- This set a precedent, reinforcing that extended family decisions take precedence over individual claims.
The ruling left Akosua Serwaa’s family emotional, with reports of tears outside the courtroom, while Odo Broni supporters celebrated. It underscores the complexities of blending customary and civil marriages in Ghana, especially in high-profile cases like this. Daddy Lumba, who passed away on July 26, 2025, leaves a legacy complicated by multiple marital claims.