The Kumasi High Court has been furnished with original copies of the marriage certificate between the late highlife icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosuh (Daddy Lumba), and Akosua Serwaa Fosuh, as the legal battle over who qualifies as his legitimate widow intensifies.
Counsel for Akosua Serwaa Fosuh, William Kusi, submitted the documents on Monday, sourced directly from the Registry of Marriage in Bornheim, Germany. These included the original power of attorney issued to Georgina Osei Bonsu, an accompanying invoice and notary documentation, as well as an English translation of the marriage certificate notarised in Germany.
Akosua Serwaa Fosuh is asking the High Court to declare her the sole legal widow of the late musician and the only person entitled to perform widowhood rites at his funeral. She is also seeking an order restraining another woman, Priscilla Ofori, popularly known as Odo Broni, from presenting herself as Daddy Lumba’s wife.
The defendants in the matter are Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu, head of the Ekuona family of Parkoso; Priscilla Ofori (Odo Broni); and Transitions Funeral Home.
Until the filing of the originals, defence counsel had consistently challenged the legitimacy of the marriage certificate tendered earlier. However, despite the fresh documents, their objections remained unchanged.
Counsel for Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu, Dominic Kwadwo Osei, opposed the admission of the exhibits, arguing that the timing was problematic since the plaintiff had already closed her case. He further contended that the documents submitted on Monday appeared different from those attached to the witness statement, pointing to inconsistencies in font styles, notary signatures, and the authenticity of translated portions that lacked a seal.
He also questioned why the marriage certificate did not bear the signatures of “the late Charles Kwadwo Fosuh and Akosua Serwaa Fosuh to show.”
Counsel for Odo Broni, Kwasi Mensah Nyarko, aligned with these objections, claiming the documents appeared “alien to each other” and suggesting they could have originated from “the famous Fante New Town.”
Plaintiff’s counsel, however, defended the authenticity of all documents submitted, explaining that the initial certificate was an extract, while the originals—including those endorsed at the back—were now before the court.
The debate intensified when defence counsel referred the court to page 7 of the witness statement of Georgina Osei Bonsu, arguing that the plaintiff had earlier claimed to have submitted the original and certified copies, not an extract as now suggested.
Justice Dorinda Smith-Arthur directed that photocopies of all documents be made available for proper comparison as proceedings continued with the cross-examination of Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu.
The court is expected to deliver judgment on Friday.
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