Family Convenes Before Parkoso Chiefs, Issues Ultimatum

On February 25, 2026, members of the Ekuona family of Parkoso in the Ashanti Region convened before the Chiefs of Parkoso to present formal grievances against Abusuapanyin Kofi Owusu — the family head also known as Tupac — in connection with the burial and funeral arrangements of late highlife legend Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba.

The family outlined three core demands: that Kofi Owusu disclose the exact burial location of the late musician, that he identify Daddy Lumba’s appointed successor to the family, and that he provide a full account of the funeral arrangements he oversaw. A family spokesperson, Mama China, speaking on behalf of the elderly women of the Ekuona family, confirmed the demands and issued a formal two-week ultimatum.

“We summoned him here before the Chiefs, but he didn’t show up. We all know that in Ashanti tradition, women are responsible for enstoolment. Since we installed him, we are equally demanding his removal,” Mama China said. The ultimatum took effect from February 25, 2026, requiring Kofi Owusu to appear before the Chiefs of Parkoso on March 11, 2026 — or face being destooled as family head.

“We have given him a two-week period to appear before the Chiefs on March 11, 2026, to answer our questions, or he will face the consequences.”

— Mama China, spokesperson for the elderly women of the Ekuona family, Parkoso

Abusuapanyin Fires Back: ‘Only the Asantehene Can Remove Me’

Responding in an interview on Ezra TV on February 26, 2026, Kofi Owusu rejected the demands with considerable force, insisting that under Ashanti customary law, only the Asantehene — the paramount ruler of the Ashanti Kingdom — has the authority to remove a properly installed family head. He questioned the legitimacy of the faction leading the removal effort, specifically addressing Mama China.

“No one can overthrow me as a family head except Otumfuo. People don’t show respect and are just talking without understanding. Who is Mama China anyway? If a family head organises a funeral, I answer only to my family,” he said. He further claimed that Mama China is not a member of the Ekuona family and that even if two Ekuona members had joined her group, it does not give her standing in the matter.

On the burial location, Kofi Owusu confirmed on February 28 that Daddy Lumba was buried at his private residence in East Legon, Accra — consistent with an earlier public disclosure by media personality Afia Schwarzenegger in December 2025. He said this was the late musician’s dying wish. “He was buried at his residence in East Legon, which was his dying wish. Do you know what killed him? He died from a cardiac arrest,” he said.

The Broader Legacy Battle

The burial dispute is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Daddy Lumba’s estate and legacy since his passing in late 2025. Earlier disputes included conflicting claims about whether the musician died intestate — with court documents emerging that showed no will was filed at the Probate and Administration Division of the High Court of Justice in Accra — despite the Abusuapanyin’s initial claims that a will existed.

Daddy Lumba’s first wife, Akosua Serwaa, has reportedly initiated separate legal proceedings contesting aspects of the estate. Sources indicate that up to 19 properties are at the centre of that dispute, though the full scope of the litigation has not been confirmed by the courts. The Abusuapanyin has also been accused of withdrawing funds from Lumba’s bank accounts, a matter that family members have raised but which has not been formally adjudicated.

For Ghanaians, Daddy Lumba’s legacy transcends these disputes. His music — from anthems like “Theresa” and “Aso” to decades of highlife innovation — forms part of the national cultural fabric. Many fans have expressed sadness and frustration that his post-burial period has been dominated by legal battles and family conflicts rather than celebration of a life that brought joy to millions. The March 11 deadline before the Parkoso chiefs is expected to be one of the most closely watched dates on Ghana’s entertainment calendar in the coming days.