Ghanaian businessman Osei Kwame Despite has broken his silence over the controversy surrounding the late highlife icon Daddy Lumba, speaking on issues that arose before, during and after the musician’s passing.

Speaking in an interview with Fiifi Pratt, monitored by MyNewsGh, Despite, who collaborated closely with Daddy Lumba for close to 20 years, stated that he could not align himself with either side in the dispute involving the musician’s wives, Serwaa Broni and Akosua Serwaa.

“As someone who worked with Daddy Lumba for almost twenty years, there was no way I could side with one party at the expense of the other,” he said.

Despite also disclosed that after receiving news of Lumba’s death, he donated GHC 100,000 to the family, noting that the money was meant to assist with arrangements for the one-week observance and other household expenses.

“Mourners would be trooping to their homes to commiserate with them,” he added.

He further spoke about his good relationship with both women, explaining that Akosua Serwaa contacted him from Germany shortly after she heard of her husband’s passing.

“She intended to travel to Ghana, and I even made one of my vintage cars available to her confidante, Papa Shee, to use when they arrived and paid a courtesy call,” he stated.

Addressing his relationship with Serwaa Broni, Despite said, “I have maintained a very good rapport with Odo Broni. I wonder why my name has been dragged into the melee, with some accusing me of supporting one side.

It was morally wrong for me to support one against the other in this sombre moment, to make one side laugh while the other mourns.”

He ended by appealing to the public to respect his stance, emphasising that the legacy of Daddy Lumba should be handled with respect. “I ask Ghanaians to make my name rest. Lumba’s legacy deserves decorum,” he said.

Evangelist Papa Shee has revealed that Akosua Serwaa, wife of the late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, together with other family members, missed the late musician's funeral due to a lack of official notice.

In an interview on Adom TV’s morning show Badwam, Papa Shee explained that Lumba’s immediate family was absent because they were abroad and had requested a postponement to allow everyone to be present.

He also said his absence at the funeral was to respect elders who had withdrawn from the arrangements and instead stayed home to worship.

Akosua Serwaa on the other hand, who is currently in Germany, chose to leave the matter in God’s hands after learning of the funeral through hearsay.

“I didn’t attend the funeral because I was at home worshipping. I didn’t see a need to go, especially since I can’t disrespect my elders who said they would not be attending. Akosua Serwaa is in Germany, and some family members are overseas; that’s why they wanted the funeral postponed until everyone could be present,” he said.

He added, “Akosua Serwaa has left everything in God’s hands. She was not officially informed about the funeral date on the 13th; it was only hearsay. Since Lumba’s immediate family wasn’t present at the funeral, it’s up to the family to decide if there will be another service. Akosua Serwaa is the reason Daddy Lumba became who he was.”

Thousands of mourners turned out in long, solemn queues to pay their final respects to the late music icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, when his body was laid in state at Heroes Park in Kumasi.

From the early hours of the day, fans from across the country thronged the venue to honour the legendary musician, creating an emotionally charged atmosphere as family members, fellow musicians, industry players and admirers filed past to bid him farewell.

Daddy Lumba’s timeless songs played softly in the background, deepening the sense of loss and underscoring his immense contribution to Ghana’s music industry.

Many mourners described him as a cultural symbol whose music spoke to love, hardship, hope and everyday social realities, noting that his work influenced generations of artistes and helped shape the sound and identity of contemporary Ghanaian music.

Others said that although he has passed on, his music and lasting impact will endure, ensuring that the name Daddy Lumba remains celebrated for years to come.

The family went ahead with the funeral on December 13, 2025, after the Accra High Court ruled that the burial should proceed as originally scheduled.

The court’s decision followed an earlier injunction that had halted the funeral, restrained the family head, Kofi Owusu, from organising the burial, and barred Transitions Funeral Home from releasing the body. Shortly after issuing that order, the court recalled all legal representatives and issued a fresh directive.

In its ruling, the court directed the applicants to deposit GH¢2 million by 2 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025, as security to cover potential costs arising from the postponement of the funeral. The judge explained that while the applicants’ concerns were noted, the injunction carried significant financial implications and could impose an unfair burden on the respondents. When the applicants, made up of members of Daddy Lumba’s maternal family, failed to meet the condition, the court ruled that the funeral should proceed on December 13.

Despite the court’s position, conflicting statements emerged from sections of the family and associates of the late musician ahead of the burial. Evangelist Papa Shee had earlier claimed the funeral would not take place in December, citing delays in travel arrangements for some family members abroad, examinations involving the musician’s children, expired passports, and pending autopsy results. He also indicated that the family intended to meet President John Dramani Mahama over a proposed state burial and suggested a new burial date of March 14, 2026.

These claims were rejected by the Abusuapanyin, Kofi Owusu, who insisted that December 13 remained the official burial date and warned that he would take legal action against anyone suggesting otherwise. He maintained that no individual had the authority to change the date once it had been fixed.

The late musician’s elder sister, Ernestina Fosu, also publicly opposed earlier burial arrangements, stating that the family could not proceed with the funeral until the exact cause of Daddy Lumba’s death was known. She stressed that no court ruling or family decision would compel her to support the burial without clarity on the circumstances surrounding his death, though she later indicated her readiness to organise the funeral once the cause was established.

Amid the family disagreements, Prophet Kumchacha issued warnings of spiritual consequences if the burial was not conducted peacefully, claiming to have received revelations about potential tragedy should the funeral be mishandled. His comments added to the public debate surrounding the burial.

Daddy Lumba’s burial date had earlier been shifted from December 6 to December 13, 2025, to allow additional time for matters relating to the cause of death to be addressed. Following the court’s final ruling and the failure of the applicants to meet the imposed conditions, the funeral eventually took place on December 13, bringing an end to weeks of legal disputes and public controversy over the final rites of the celebrated musician.