Traditional authorities of the Ga-Dangme people have raised strong objections to reports that Ghanaian highlife legend Daddy Lumba was buried at his private residence in East Legon, stating that such a practice violates both Ghanaian law and Ga traditional customs.
In a video shared by blogger ZionFelix on social media, Rev. Dr. Jesse Ankrah, spokesperson for the office of the Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse, explained that Ga-Adangbe traditions do not permit burial in residential homes.
According to him, established customs require that the dead be buried in designated cemeteries or approved traditional burial grounds. He emphasized that any deviation from this practice would require special traditional rites to pacify the land and appease the gods.
“It is unclean to have dead bodies brought close to our deities. We do not permit that, and the spirits around us also do not permit it. If such a thing happens, the land must be pacified, the deities must be appeased, and the traditional leadership that has authority over the territory where the body is buried must also be consulted,” Rev. Ankrah stated.
He also raised environmental concerns regarding such burials, explaining that fluids released during the decomposition of a body could seep into the ground and contaminate nearby water sources.
“From an environmental perspective, it is also against the laws of the state and the laws of the community. If the body begins to decompose in the ground, fluids from the body can seep into the soil. If someone living nearby relies on a borehole for household water, such contamination could pose a serious health risk,” he noted.
The controversy reportedly began after comments attributed to the musician’s family head, Victor Owusu, suggested that the late singer had been buried at his East Legon residence.
In response, the office of the Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse summoned the family head to appear before the traditional authority to clarify the circumstances surrounding the alleged burial.
Rev. Ankrah disclosed that attempts were made to contact the family head, also known as “Tupac,” to address the matter, but he had not honoured the invitation at the time of the statement.
“We expected him to honour the invitation extended to him this morning, but we have waited for some time and he has not arrived,” he said, adding that there were also reports suggesting that the family head may have been removed from his position.
