The legal battles surrounding the estate and legacy of the late Highlife legend, Daddy Lumba, have taken another dramatic turn. On May 14, 2026, an Accra High Court delivered a pivotal ruling that reshapes the ongoing dispute within the Ekuona family.
The core of the recent controversy lies in a leadership struggle that has plagued the family since before the musician’s burial. For months, the legitimacy of Abusuapanyin Kofi Owusu as the head of the Ekuona family has been under intense scrutiny.
Following a series of internal disputes, the family reportedly moved to remove Kofi Owusu from his position, subsequently installing Abusuapanyin Kwabena Brefo as the new family head. Despite this internal shift, the legal proceedings had hit a snag regarding who truly represents the family interest in the eyes of the law.
During yesterday’s proceedings, the court addressed the transition of power head-on. The presiding judge ruled that:
Kwabena Brefo, the newly installed family head, must be added as the fifth defendant in the ongoing case.
Kofi Owusu no longer possesses the legal basis to present himself as the head of the family following his removal.
The plaintiffs must amend their writ to officially include Kwabena Brefo in the litigation.
Counsel for Akosua Serwaa expressed satisfaction with the ruling, noting that the inclusion of Brefo was essential because he is now considered the legitimate head.
“Our main concern is that [Kofi Owusu] has been removed as family head, so he no longer has the basis to present himself as such,” counsel stated.
The legal team for Kofi Owusu reportedly filed affidavits in opposition late Wednesday afternoon, but the court proceeded with the ruling regardless.
The case has been adjourned to June 29, 2026, providing the legal teams time to amend their filings and prepare their defense under this new leadership structure. For Ghanaians who hoped the “Lumba Saga” had reached its conclusion, this latest courtroom development suggests that the road to a final settlement remains long and complex.