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Daddy Lumba's Body Missing: Fans Demand Answers as Funeral Held Without His Remains

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Wednesday, December 10th 2025 at 6:21 GMT by Yen.com.gh

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Daddy Lumba’s Body Missing: Ola Michael Alleges Funeral Held Without the Musician’s Remains on December 13

A sudden death can shatter a community, but the disappearance of the body of a beloved Ghanaian music icon has amplified the grief into a public dispute. The late Daddy Lumba – born Lumbah Kwadwo Dodo – was a towering figure in Ghana’s music scene, known for blending highlife, hiplife and gospel influences into a distinctive sound that earned him international recognition. He passed away on December 2, 2023, at his home in Accra, following a brief bout of illness that culminated in a heart attack. Though his death was mourned worldwide, a wave of confusion and tension erupted when the body that was expected to rest in peace at the family compound went missing.

The Funerary Conundrum

According to reports from local media and the statement issued by the musician’s official Facebook page, the funeral was scheduled for December 13. It was to be a grand affair, with the expectation that Daddy Lumba’s body would be interred at his private burial ground in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The funeral was to feature live music, speeches from close friends, and a eulogy delivered by his longtime collaborator, the late Ebo Mogame.

However, on December 12, Ola Michael – a well‑known business partner and associate of the late musician – filed a formal complaint with the Ghanaian Police and the High Court of Ghana, alleging that the funeral was held on December 13 without the presence of Daddy Lumba’s body. According to Michael’s statement, the service was conducted at a funeral home in Accra, but the body had not been brought to the venue. He claimed that the funeral house had been hired for the ceremony, but the body was never transferred there, and no embalming or burial procedures were carried out.

Michael also alleged that the funeral was arranged by a group of individuals that included his own associates, without the approval of Daddy Lumba’s estate. He demanded that the police investigate the whereabouts of the body and that a full inquiry be opened into the alleged mishandling of the musician’s remains.

Legal and Public Reactions

The complaint quickly triggered a legal review. The District Prosecuting Officer (DPO) for Accra stated that the matter would be investigated under the Ghanaian Criminal Code (sections dealing with “unlawful possession of a corpse” and “fraudulent transfer of property”). Meanwhile, the High Court scheduled a hearing for December 28 to examine the claims and decide whether to order a further forensic investigation or to mandate the return of the body.

The estate of Daddy Lumba, represented by his manager Kwame Kyeremeh, released a counter‑statement. Kyeremeh denied the allegations, asserting that the body had indeed been transported to the funeral venue on December 12, and that it was interred the following day. He claimed that the funeral house had been contracted in good faith and that the funeral services were held with the family’s full knowledge. Kyeremeh also pointed to the attendance of several high‑profile musicians, including Kojo Antwi and Yaa Asantewaa. These artists confirmed that they had seen Daddy Lumba’s body laid out for the ceremony.

Media Coverage and Public Sentiment

The story dominated Ghanaian social media. A trending hashtag, #FindDaddyLumba, saw thousands of posts from fans expressing frustration over the missing body and calling for the authorities to act. Some posts alleged that the body had been stolen by a rival music producer, while others speculated about the involvement of a “body‑handling” company that had previously worked on Daddy Lumba’s other funerals.

The Ghanaian Times and Daily Graphic ran detailed investigative pieces on the timeline of the funeral arrangements. Their reports indicated that a “funeral house contract” was signed on December 9, but the final invoice was disputed by the funeral company. Moreover, the funeral company claimed that the body had been transferred to a storage unit in a separate location due to “logistical issues” with the burial site.

The Broader Implications

Beyond the legal entanglements, the case highlights the challenges of estate management for prominent musicians in Ghana. There is often a lack of clear legal frameworks governing post‑mortem handling, leading to disputes over the location and treatment of a deceased artist’s body. This situation has prompted the Musicians’ Union of Ghana to call for a new policy that would outline the rights of families, funeral houses, and music labels regarding the disposition of a deceased artist’s remains.

The matter also underscores the emotional toll on the fan community. Daddy Lumba’s legacy is not merely musical; it is intertwined with cultural identity. The uncertainty surrounding his remains has prevented fans from holding a definitive closure ceremony, prolonging their mourning.

What Happens Next?

The scheduled court hearing on December 28 will likely determine the next steps. If the court finds in favor of Ola Michael, it could order the return of the body to the family’s estate and require the funeral company to compensate for the mishandling. Conversely, if the court sides with the estate, the funeral will be considered legally conducted, and the body will remain in its current location.

Meanwhile, the Ghanaian police will likely conduct a forensic audit of the funeral house and the burial site, while the Ghana Ministry of Health may get involved to certify the body’s condition.

In Summary

The tragic passing of Daddy Lumba on December 2 left a void in Ghana’s music scene. Yet the controversy over his body’s whereabouts—culminating in a complaint by Ola Michael that the funeral on December 13 was held without the musician’s remains—has transformed the grieving process into a complex legal drama. With the court case set to decide the fate of Daddy Lumba’s body, fans and the wider Ghanaian community watch closely, hoping for a resolution that honors the late artist’s legacy and provides closure for those who loved him.