Kofi Nti, Ohemaa Woyeje, Efia Schwarzenegger and other public figures have reacted to the controversies surrounding the burial of legendary highlife musician Daddy Lumba in Kumasi on December 13, 2025.

Their responses range from calls for peace to support for the late artist’s legal family.

Kofi Nti

Highlife musician Kofi Nti said he intentionally avoided attending the funeral because of safety concerns and his family’s advice.

He added that, as a peace-loving person, he had hoped the Abusuapanin would bring the two wives together to promote harmony.

“I’m a very peaceful person. I thought Abusuapanin will bring both wives together for them to be in peace but I didn’t see that,” he said.

Kofi Nti revealed that his mother advised him to stay out of the funeral disputes after learning about the surrounding controversies.

“My mother called me and said she had heard a lot about the funeral so I shouldn’t involve myself,” he explained.

He added that expectations were high for a massive turnout, but the tension discouraged him from attending.

“We were expecting the whole stadium to be full. I didn’t want to go because the controversies that went.

“I wouldn’t want something to happen there or someone hitting me with something just because I showed up and since my mother said I shouldn’t involve myself, I had to respect that,” Kofi Nti added.

Ohemaa Woyeje

Media personality Ohemaa Woyeje also weighed in, making a strong statement about the late musician’s relationships.

According to her, Odo Broni was not Daddy Lumba’s wife but his girlfriend, despite public perceptions.

“Odo Broni is not Daddy Lumba’s wife; she’s his girlfriend. These days, all men call their girlfriends their women and wives but it doesn’t mean he’s married to her,” she said.

She said many people were aware of the truth but chose to remain silent.

Ohemaa Woyeje, however, publicly declared her support for Akosua Serwaa, believed to be Daddy Lumba’s legal wife.

“We know everything but we’re just quiet. To Akosua Serwaa, God is with you. Your efforts will not be in vain. Your husband said he didn’t want anyone to hurt you after his death but they have hurt you,” she stated.

She added that despite insults and criticism, Akosua Serwaa had strong backing.

“They should insult us because we are behind you and your truth. We will continue to support you and we will support the truth,” she added.

Afia Schwarzenegger

Outspoken media personality Afia Schwarzenegger firmly backed Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu, asserting that Daddy Lumba would still be in the mortuary if not for his decisive actions.

“If not for Abusuapanin, Lumba wouldn’t have been buried by now. If we didn’t put our feet down, Daddy Lumba would have remained in the mortuary,” she said.

She praised the Abusuapanin’s leadership, describing him as wise and decisive.

“I’m so proud of Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu. He’s a wise man,” she shared.

Afia Schwarzenegger challenged the idea of delaying the funeral to March 14, stating that Odo Broni and her family would not have accepted such a postponement.

“If the funeral wasn’t done and was postponed to March 14, would Odo Broni and her family agree? Team legal wife were saying they won’t agree.

“I kept asking myself what would make them think that Odo Broni and her family would agree to hold the funeral on March 14,” she noted. She further criticised the ongoing legal battles, questioning the financial cost of the disputes.

“With all the controversies, is it not the same money they’re using to pay the lawyers?” she added.

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.