The Manhyia Palace in Kumasi has postponed a high-profile hearing involving a relative of Ghanaian highlife legend Daddy Lumba, after his sister invoked the revered Great Oath of the Asantehene.
The hearing, originally scheduled for Monday, November 3, 2025, was adjourned following notice of a related court case awaiting judgment. The postponement adds another layer of suspense to the long-running dispute over who legally qualifies as the late musician’s wife.
According to Asante custom, once the Great Oath is invoked, only the Manhyia Palace, under the authority of the Asantehene, can mediate and determine the outcome as no civil court holds jurisdiction over matters involving the sacred oath, Citinewsroom reported.
The case stems from a legal challenge filed by Akosua Serwaa, the first wife of Daddy Lumba, contesting the legitimacy of another woman’s claim to being his rightful spouse. During the court session on October 28, 2025, Ernestina Akosua Bimpomaa, identified as Lumba’s sister, invoked the Great Oath, an act that immediately shifted the case from the High Court to traditional authority.
Meanwhile, in a separate legal development, the Kumasi High Court has dismissed an injunction application filed by Akosua Serwaa seeking to halt Daddy Lumba’s funeral rites. The court ruled that, under Asante customary law, control over the musician’s remains lies with his extended family, not his spouse.
With the injunction lifted, the court directed all parties to complete their filings by October 31, ahead of a Case Management Conference on November 14, which will pave the way for the main hearing beginning November 17. The proceedings are expected to conclude by November 21, with a final ruling slated for November 25, 2025.
Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu on September 29, 1964, in Nsuta, Ashanti Region, passed away on July 26, 2025, at the age of 60. The celebrated singer, famed for timeless hits and his influence on Ghanaian music, remains a central figure even in death as traditional and legal authorities navigate this sensitive family dispute.
