Daddy Lumba’s funeral set to proceed after GH₵2m deadline missed

The Accra High Court’s order to pay GH₵2 million by the applicants in the ongoing family dispute regarding the funeral of legendary Ghanaian musician Daddy Lumba has not been met, and thus the funeral is set to proceed tomorrow, Saturday, December 13.

The court had previously ruled that failure to make the payment would allow the body to be released for burial. Transitions Funeral Home’s lawyers are currently awaiting the certified court order to finalize funeral arrangements.

This development follows an earlier injunction that had temporarily prevented the family head from organizing the funeral and stopped the funeral home from releasing the late musician’s body.

Lawyers for the applicants argued that the new directive was ‘practically impossible,’ stating that the court had no authority to vary its initial orders without notice. They proposed signing an undertaking to pay the sum at a later date and warned that the sudden change could mislead the public.

However, the respondents maintained that GH₵2 million was insufficient given the costs already spent on dignitaries, contractors, and funeral arrangements. They urged the court to raise the amount to over GH₵5 million and insisted that the burial should proceed if the maternal family failed to comply.

The Accra High Court clarified that the directive does not affect the Daddy Lumba LBG Foundation or the second respondent. However, it made it clear that non-payment would compel Transitions Funeral Home to release the body, effectively allowing the funeral to take place while financial matters are settled.

Preparations are now expected to continue for tomorrow’s funeral, marking a critical turn in the months-long saga surrounding the late musician’s burial.