The death of Highlife legend and cultural icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosuh, better known as Daddy Lumba, has left not only a void in Ghana’s music scene but also a deep sense of unease among those closest to him.
Nearly three months after the legendary highlife musician’s passing, his widow and elder sister are demanding a transparent, independent investigation into what they describe as “unclear and conflicting reports” about how he died.
In a statement issued on October 13, 2025, and signed by the family secretary on behalf of Mrs. Akosua Serwah Fosuh (widow) and Ms. Ernestina Fosuh (sister), the family detailed three conflicting versions of events that have left them questioning what truly happened in the final days of the man affectionately known as “Lumba.”
The Confusion: Three Stories, One Death
The first version came from an eyewitness who said that on the night of the incident, Daddy Lumba called a friend to his home, When the friend arrived, he was reportedly prevented from seeing him by a woman living with him. After waiting for nearly two hours, the friend left, only to receive a call on his way home that the musician had died at his residence.
A second, official version from the Ghana Police Service and a coroner’s report painted a different picture. The report stated that the 60-year-old artist, who was a known diabetic, had complained of pain in his legs and waist on July 24, 2025 and was taken to Sunshine Diagnostic Centre for an MRI scan. Because of “agitation and fear,” he was placed under anaesthesia. After the procedure, he developed “severe pain” and was transferred to the Bank Hospital, where he reportedly died two days later, on July 26, 2025.
The third account, and the one that has most alarmed the family, came from Ms. Priscilla Ofori, popularly known as Odo Broni, a woman believed to have been living with Daddy Lumba. According to the family’s release, Odo Broni initially told relatives that the musician received an injection at the Bank Hospital that caused him “severe pain before he passed away.” But the next day, she allegedly gave a different version, telling a cousin that Lumba had actually died at home, and that she had cleaned and dressed his body before calling a friend, identified as Serwaa Amihere, a popular journalist, to help transport him to the hospital.
Since then, the family claims, Odo Broni has refused to provide any further details.
“These contradictory versions have left the family deeply concerned and distressed,” the statement read, adding that the inconsistencies raise “serious questions about the true cause of death and whether proper medical and investigative procedures were followed.”
Call on Ghanaian and German Authorities
In response to these troubling discrepancies, the family has petitioned both Ghanaian and German authorities for intervention. The late musician, who held German citizenship, had long maintained a home in Germany and frequently shuttled between Europe and Ghana.
According to the statement, the family has contacted:
- The German Embassy in Accra
- The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in Wiesbaden, Germany
- *The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) in Berlin
In Ghana, the family has appealed to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID)** of the Ghana Police Service to question two individuals: Ms. Priscilla Ofori and Mr. Philip Kwabena A.**, popularly known in entertainment circles as Roman Fada, to help uncover the truth.
“The family has submitted all relevant documents, including medical reports, official correspondence, and confirmation from Transition Funeral Home regarding the handling of the remains,” the release noted.
A Plea for Transparency
For many Ghanaians, Daddy Lumba’s music defined a generation. His storytelling, wit, and unmatched voice made him a cultural icon. But his family’s pain now lies not in the melodies he left behind, but in the mystery surrounding his final hours.
In their joint statement, Mrs. Akosua Serwah Fosuh and Ms. Ernestina Fosuh expressed their grief and faith in the authorities:
“We, the family of the late Charles Kwadwo Fosuh, loved him dearly and are devastated by the unclear and conflicting reports surrounding his death. We have confidence that both the German and Ghanaian authorities will work together to uncover the truth, ensure justice, and bring transparency to this painful situation.”
Understanding the Stakes
At its core, this isn’t just a family’s call for answers it’s also a test of institutional accountability and cross-border cooperation.
Legal analysts say such cases require joint investigation frameworks between host and home countries to ensure transparency and credibility.
For the millions who grew up on Lumba’s music, the family’s demand for answers reflects a deeper yearning for closure, both for themselves and for a nation still humming his songs.
The family hopes that the collaboration between Ghanaian and German authorities will “bring transparency to this painful situation” and finally lay to rest the unanswered questions surrounding the legend’s death.
