Common sense should be common to everybody. From the Aristotelian philosophy (Greek) of “koine aisthesis” and Latin “sensus communis”, the age old concept gave way to the 18th Century Enlightenment understanding of those plain, self-evident truths or conventional wisdom that need no wisdom, no sophistication to grasp and no proof to accept precisely because they accorded so well with the basic intellectual capacities and experiences of the whole social body. This concept debated far and wide dictates that misunderstandings, conflicts, battles, wars should come to an end.
Coming home, the legal framework accepts this commonsensical understanding; hence its place in the “rules” guiding ethical legal behaviour.
Every lawyer in Ghana is familiar with Order 1 r 1(2) of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (C.I. 47), which states: “These rules shall be interpreted and applied so as to achieve speedy and effective justice, avoid delays and unnecessary expense, and ensure that as far as possible, all matters in dispute between parties may be completely, effectively and finally determined and multiplicity of proceedings concerning any of such matters avoided.”
This notwithstanding, we Asantes have a well-established cultural norm; respect for the dead and his family; the key role of an Abusuapanin in a funeral setting; and the belief that the dead (and our ancestors) hover around the living.
A lot of things have gone on since the departure of the late Kwadwo Fosuh (Daddy Lumba) to paradise or the underworld; The burial of the late Daddy Lumba; the final funeral rites and the judgment by Her Ladyship Dorinda Smith Arthur on Friday 28th day of November, 2025.
Akosua Serwaa Fosuh’s lawyers sent Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu, Priscilla Ofori (Odo Broni) and Transitions Funeral Home to court seeking among 4 reliefs: (1) An order of this Honourable Court declaring that the Plaintiff is the only surviving spouse of the late Charles Kwadwo Fosuh a.k.a. Daddy Lumba; (4) An order restraining the 2nd Defendant from carrying herself as the surviving spouse of the late Charles Kwadwo Fosuh a.k.a. Daddy Lumba.
In an erudite judgment, prefaced by the Biblical quotation of 2 Corinthians 13:8 “We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth”, We could add 5th BCE Socratic quote by Greek philosopher Parmenides: “What is, is; what is not, is not.” the learned judge ruled that: (1) The Plaintiff was customarily married to the deceased Charles Kwadwo Fosuh a.k.a. Daddy Lumba in 1991 in Ghana; (2) The 2nd Defendant was customarily married to the deceased Charles Kwadwo Fosuh a.k.a. Daddy Lumba in 2010 in Ghana; (3) I declare that the Plaintiff and the 2nd Defendant are the surviving spouses of the deceased Charles Kwadwo Fosuh a.k.a. Daddy Lumba.
At the funeral at Kumasi Sports Stadium on 13th December, 2025, the second widow (Odo Broni) was present and so were the children of Akosua Serwaa (Calvin Kwadwo Fosuh, Nana Ama, Denise … indeed all the 11 children of Daddy Lumba). What should this tell the world? Meanwhile, Akosua Serwaa was in Germany doing what she alone knows about? Disgusting, to say the least.
Then the “Legal Wife” came from Germany arriving at Kotoka International Airport. Given the controversy surrounding Daddy Lumba’s death and after; the hype given after his death; the controversies; the court cases; the rigmarole of the drama; curses; going to pacify the gods at Manhyia Palace; it was not surprising that a heavy crowd lay waiting on January 9, 2026. It was caution thrown to the winds — a massive crowd, a tumultuous aspect. Was it sporadic or pre-arranged? And we expected to see a “weeping” widow. Rather, we saw a grinning widow waving to acknowledge a warm welcome in a top-open vehicle — Akosua Serwaa displaying a gargantuan banner handed over to her by Papa Shee.
The statement from Akosua Serwaa read: “I wish to express my heartfelt and profound gratitude to Team Legal Wives for their immense and unwavering support throughout this journey. Your solidarity, prayers, advocacy, and love have strengthened me in ways words cannot fully capture. The unity you have shown stands as a testament …” to truth, justice, and the power of collective support…”
Who is Papa Shee and what is he? Some say he was a dancer in Daddy Lumba’s group; some say he was a friend of Daddy Lumba’s; some say he was the “boy-boy” of Daddy Lumba and now Akosua Serwaa; some say he is the brain behind all the “troubles” of Akosua Serwaa… Ghanaians can “talk”.
Some people paint a gloomy picture of Papa Shee and the way he was sacked from Lumba’s house when Lumba was recuperating at home… he has got the title “evangelist” attached to his name, so people should be careful when they address Papa Shee…and who made the gigantic “Certificate of Marriage”? An unknown person?
And Akosua Serwaa arrived at Prempeh I Airport in Kumasi see the car she was in? The sluice gate has been widely opened for all kinds of allegations, innuendos, invectives and comments, mostly negative against Akosuah Serwaah. One may know the putrid mouth of some of the people on social media. The “challenge between Afia Schwarzenegger (supporter of Odo Broni) and Lady Black Witch (supporter of legal wife: Akosua Serwaah).
People doubt the fidelity of Akosua Serwaah, claiming the unproven allegation of her flirting in Germany.
The “search” conducted at the Registry of Probate and Administration Division of the High Court proved that no will was filed by Daddy Lumba. All Daddy Lumba’s assets, including residential houses, commercial buildings and parcels of land situated at various parts of the country will fall under the Intestate Succession Law.
Then it comes to the application for Letters of Administration to administer the estate of Daddy Lumba, filed on 24th December, 2025. The application was made by Akosua Serwaah Fosuh, Charlyn Fosuh, Ernestina Fosuh a.k.a. Akosua Brempomaa. It emerged that Charlyn Fosuh had no knowledge of the affidavit sworn to in her and the two other persons’ name. What did anyone expect the judge to do? Lawyers are in business; at least “man mo yee” (man must eat). So if you give your lawyer specific instruction, he will carry it out. So we cannot fault either the lawyer or Dominion Chambers for carrying out the instructions of one of the widows of Daddy Lumba.
For now, a point has been reached when people should allow their emotions to be tempered with sound logic. The Intestate Succession Law is alive to take care of the estate of Daddy Lumba, and PNDC Law III specifies the sharing: 3/16 to the surviving spouse (spouses, in this case); 9/16 to the surviving child (children in this case); 1/8 to the surviving parent; 1/8 in accordance with customary law.
Papa Shee, unashamedly, would announce another funeral observance on March 28th and 29th… that he had had contact with MUSIGA… what?
Will somebody tell Papa Shee he should be careful not to bring any more conflict into the Lumba family. But Lumba has a great name. Anything done anywhere, anytime in his name will attract a huge crowd. Anybody can capitalize on this for his/her selfish end.
Let no one fault Odo Broni. She did not go to “boss” Daddy Lumba. It was Daddy Lumba who introduced her to the world as his wife, and the world acknowledged this fact, Lumba would attend social functions (funerals, child out doorings birthday…) with Odo Broni… she would cook for Daddy Lumba, take care of his health… common sense will dictate what is to be done for her, Odo Broni, mo ne adwuma.
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