Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has appealed to the public and media to respect the privacy of the bereaved family of Ghanaian highlife legend Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, during their time of grief.
In a message shared on the Ministry’s official Facebook page, the Minister extended her condolences following a visit to the late musician’s family home to offer sympathy and perform customary rites in honour of the fallen icon.
Tribute to the Late Music Legend
Mrs. Gomashie paid a special tribute to Daddy Lumba’s widow, calling for compassion and dignity from the public during this period.
“This is a difficult time for the family, and we must all show compassion by respecting their privacy,” she said. “His passing is a huge loss to the creative community and to the nation.”
She praised Daddy Lumba’s exceptional contribution to Ghanaian music, describing his career as both influential and enduring, and noted that his legacy will remain etched in the annals of Ghana’s cultural history.
Ministry Planning Highlife Music Festival
The Minister also revealed that the Ministry was in the advanced stages of planning a highlife music festival, with Daddy Lumba expected to play a central role in the event.
“Losing him at such a time is heartbreaking,” she added. “We were planning something big that he would have been proud of and actively involved in.”
The proposed festival is part of a larger cultural policy initiative aimed at promoting and preserving Ghana’s indigenous music traditions, particularly highlife, which Daddy Lumba helped popularise both locally and internationally.
National and Creative Industry Loss
The death of Daddy Lumba has sent shockwaves through the creative arts community, with tributes pouring in from fans, musicians, and public officials alike. Many have hailed him as a trailblazer who shaped the sound of modern Ghanaian music and inspired generations of artists.
Mrs. Gomashie concluded her message by reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to honouring the legacy of national cultural icons and ensuring that the memory of Daddy Lumba lives on.
