It has been reported—and personally confirmed—that Akosua Serwaa, one of the two legally recognised wives of the late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, has applied for Letters of Administration in Kumasi to gain control over his estate.
This move is not only legally questionable but appears to be a calculated manoeuvre rather than a genuine step toward estate administration.
Why the Application is Legally Flawed?
Under Ghanaian law, specifically Order 66 Rule 13 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (C.I. 47), when a person dies intestate, the right to apply for Letters of Administration follows a clear order of priority:
1. Any surviving spouse
2. Any surviving children
3. Any surviving parents
4. The customary successor
The recent High Court declaration affirming that Daddy Lumba had two surviving wives—Akosua Serwaa and Odo Broni—means that both women hold equal priority as surviving spouses.
It is legally irregular for one spouse to unilaterally apply for Letters of Administration without the involvement, knowledge, or consent of the other. Such an application is likely to be refused by the court, as it disregards the co-equal standing of the spouses in the succession process.
Is There a Will? The Unanswered Question
To date, Daddy Lumba’s lawyers have not publicly confirmed whether he left a valid will. If Akosua Serwaa has not formally inquired with his legal representatives or the family regarding the existence of a will, on what basis is she assuming he died intestate?
In law, an application for Letters of Administration presupposes that the deceased died without a will. If a will exists, the proper procedure is to apply for a grant of probate, not administration.
This raises a suspicious possibility: that the application is less about administering the estate and more about probing whether a will exists. By filing for Letters of Administration, Akosua Serwaa may be attempting to “smoke out” information from Lumba’s lawyers or force disclosure about the true state of his testamentary arrangements.
The Issue of the Abusuapanin Affidavit
Another procedural hurdle is the customary requirement of an affidavit from the head of family (Abusuapanin)—in this case, 2pac—confirming the facts in the application.
While this is not an absolute legal requirement, as established in cases like Progressive Modern Company Ltd v. Esther Bonsu & Others, and remains at the court’s discretion, its absence could raise questions about the bona fides of the application.
How did Akosua Serwaa secure this affidavit, if at all? And if she did not, does the court have all the relevant facts before it?
A Sinister Undertone
Given the context—a publicly disputed marital status, unclear testamentary situation, and the unilateral action by one spouse—this application appears strategically motivated rather than procedurally proper. It seeks to bypass the co-spouse, preempt a potential will, and gain an unfair advantage in estate/property matters.
The Intestate Succession Act (P.N.D.C.L. 111) was enacted to protect spouses and children from predatory actions by extended family. Ironically, here we see a spouse using procedural gaps to potentially marginalise the other spouse—an outcome the law seeks to prevent.
Without doubt, Akosua Serwaa’s application for Letters of Administration is premature, procedurally irregular, and legally vulnerable.
It ignores the rights of Odo Broni as an equal surviving spouse, presupposes intestacy without evidence, and may be a tactical move to uncover confidential estate information. The court would be justified in rejecting this application, and the public should view it with scepticism.
The proper path forward is a joint application by both surviving spouses, after confirmation of whether Daddy Lumba died testate or intestate—not a solo move that sows confusion and distrust.
Akosua Serwaa is at it again, and when she loses in court, her supporters will start instructing Ghanaian judges and all of us.
The law is the law–I didn’t make the law.
I’ve said it from the beginning: this entire saga around Daddy Lumba has always been about his properties. We are now reaching the heart of the matter, and the true motive is becoming clear. It was never genuinely about being a wife or proving one’s status; it was a cold calculation: “The man is gone—now let me secure as much of the estate as I can.”
