Tributes continue to pour following the unexpected demise of one of Ghana’s music icons, Charles Kojo Fosu, which occurred yesterday Saturday July 26.
Affectionately known as Daddy Lumba, the highlife legend and songwriter, died at the Bank Hospital, at Cantonments in Accra, following a brief illness at 60 years.
Counsel for the Fosu Family, Baba Jamal &Associates, Fati Ali Yalleh, Esq, confirmed the incident in a statement.
“With profound sorrow and deep grief, the Fosu Family announces the passing of Ghana’s beloved musical icon, Charles Kojo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, who passed away earlier today, Saturday, July 26, 2025, after a short illness.”
The unfortunate news has thrown the country and beyond into a state of mourning, drawing the attention of prominent figures, including President John Dramani Mahama to react.
Mahama, who was in Liberia to join in the commemoration of that country’s 178th Independence Day celebration, this morning took to his social media handles to express his deep sorrow about the incident.
The president who met the deceased earlier this month during a state dinner held for senior statesmen at the Jubilee House during the Republic Day celebration, acknowledged the contribution of the ‘Adaka tia’ hit maker, to the entertainment industry and Ghana as a whole.
According to the president “Lumba’s unmatched musical genius provided the soundtrack to our lives, carrying us through various phases of life. The beats to his memorable songs may have died down, but his enduring legacy will echo through the ages.
On behalf of the Government of Ghana, I extend heartfelt condolences to his family and lived ones for this irreplaceable”, he said on Sunday July 27.
In the same direction, a music brother of Lumba, who he formed a a group with Lumba Brothers, in Germany, Ernest Nana Acheampong has expressed shock at his former colleague’s death.
On his Facebook page, Nana Acheampong as he is famously known rhetorically asked “Menua [brother] Kojo Fosu why this shock? Hmmm, you have indeed done what the creator brought you on earth to do, you will forever inspire generations, I am my family are in pain. To the family of my beloved brother, may God hold you tight in this moment. Rest in glory my brother and legend. Fly high my, Lumba brother”.
During a programme dubbed ‘KAFAM Legends Night’ to celebrate Lumba, the event was graced by Nana Acheampong who performed their debut in 1989 ‘Yeeya Aka Akwantuon Mu’. On that stage, Lumba told the story of how he met his brother in Germany as a gospel musician and introduced him to highlife.
In the 2000s, Lumba was honoured in a grand style by the Musicians Association of Ghana (MUSIGA) at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), where then president John Kufuor, later former president Jerry Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings were the special guests.
Several others including former president Akuf-Addo whi he did campaign songs including his hit in 2008 ‘Nana Ye Winner’.
Others are vice president; Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, musician and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Gomoa Central; Kwame Asare Obeng alias A Plus, Serwah Amihere, Shatta Wale, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Samini, Adina, Gyakie Acheampong, (daughter of Nana Acheampong), Reggie Rockstone, among others, Bice Osei Kufuor alias Obour, Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD).
Lumba was born in on Monday September 29, 1964 at Nsuta near Mampong in the Ashanti Region, to Madam Ama Saah and Owoahene Kojo Fosu, all of blessed memory. He started his music career in the church as a chorister. He opted out of pursuing further education to seek greener pastures in Cologne, Germany where he met Nana Acheampong.