By: Prosper Wise Amegbe
The disagreement, according to the court filing, ultimately culminated in the alleged exhumation and reburial of the deceased, setting the stage for a legal battle that now asks the High Court to determine whether the actions taken were lawful.
What began as what the Apreku children say was a mutually agreed burial arrangement has now become one of the Volta Region's most closely watched legal disputes. In a suit before the High Court in Hohoe, the children of the late Mrs Anna Klu Apreku allege that after Emmanuel Mawusi, Head of the Mawusi-Klu Family of Anfoega-Agata, initially agreed to their mother's burial at Kpando Gadza, Rev. Father Raphael Tawiah later opposed the arrangement, insisting that she should instead be buried at Anfoega-Agata and that he alone was entitled to preside over her burial rites.
Background to the Plaintiffs' Suit
According to a Statement of Claim filed at the High Court of Justice, Hohoe, on 23rd July 2026, Millicent Apreku, Patience Apreku, Prince Apreku, and Bless Apreku, the children of the late Mrs Anna Klu Apreku, have instituted legal proceedings against Rev. Father Raphael Tawiah, Emmanuel Mawusi, Richard Pidah, George Agbezuge, Bright Daffor, and Joseph Ngo over the exhumation and reburial of their late mother's remains.
In their claim, the plaintiffs state that their mother, who was ordinarily resident in Accra, died on 13th August 2025. They contend that before her death, Mrs Anna Klu Apreku had clearly expressed her wish to be buried at Kpando Gadza, the hometown of her husband, where she desired to be laid to rest alongside her husband and children.
The plaintiffs further allege that, during preparations for the funeral, they informed both the maternal and paternal families of the deceased of her final wishes. According to the court filing, they sought permission from Emmanuel Mawusi, Head of the Mawusi-Klu Family of Anfoega Agata, who initially objected to the proposed burial at Kpando Gadza but later agreed after consultations. The plaintiffs claim that following this agreement, funeral arrangements proceeded, with significant financial commitments made towards the burial and funeral ceremonies.
However, the plaintiffs state that shortly before the funeral, Rev. Father Raphael Tawiah, who they describe as a half-brother of the deceased and a member of the Mawusi-Klu Family, objected to the planned burial at Kpando Gadza. They allege that he insisted Mrs Anna Klu Apreku should instead be buried at Anfoega Agata, claiming he was the appropriate person to perform her burial rites. Despite several family meetings, the plaintiffs contend that no consensus was reached to alter the previously agreed burial arrangements.
According to the Statement of Claim, the plaintiffs proceeded with the funeral service in Accra on 28th February 2026 before transporting and burying their mother at Kpando Gadza Public Cemetery, in accordance with what they say were her expressed wishes and the family's earlier agreement.
The plaintiffs further allege that during the funeral service in Accra, individuals allegedly acting on the instructions of Rev. Father Raphael Tawiah and Emmanuel Mawusi attempted to remove the deceased's body for burial at Anfoega Agata. They claim that this attempt was unsuccessful and the burial at Kpando Gadza proceeded as planned.
The suit further states that, a few days after the burial, the plaintiffs discovered that the grave at Kpando Gadza had been disturbed and their mother's remains had been exhumed without their knowledge or consent. They subsequently reported the matter to the Kpando District Police Command, where investigations were commenced.
According to the plaintiffs, police investigations identified the defendants as persons allegedly connected to the exhumation and subsequent reburial of Mrs Anna Klu Apreku at Anfoega Agata. These allegations now form the basis of the civil action before the High Court, in which the plaintiffs are seeking declarations, damages, forensic examination of the remains, reinterment of the deceased at Kpando Gadza, and other reliefs from the court.
Emmanuel Mawusi Sues the Apreku Children
Court records indicate that Emmanuel Mawusi, suing in his capacity as Head of the Mawusi-Klu Family of Anfoega-Agata, filed the first suit at the High Court in Hohoe under Suit No. VR/HH/HC/E13/16/2026.
The defendants are:
- Millicent Apreku
- Ewoenam Apreku
- Prince Apreku
- Bless Apreku
- The Commander, Ghana Police Service, Volta North
In his Statement of Claim, Emmanuel Mawusi contends that Anna Klu Apreku belonged to the Mawusi-Klu Family of Anfoega-Agata and that, under the customs and traditions of that family, the body of a deceased family member belongs to the customary family, with the family head responsible for funeral arrangements and burial.
According to the plaintiff, the deceased died in Accra in August 2025 and was buried at Anfoega-Agata following decisions taken by the family.
He further alleges that after the burial, the children of the deceased became dissatisfied with the burial location and began taking steps to have the body exhumed and reburied at Kpando.
The suit also states that a meeting convened by the Chief of Anfoega-Agata on 30th March 2026 to resolve the dispute ended without agreement, with the Apreku children allegedly insisting that the only acceptable resolution would be to exhume the body and rebury it at Kpando.
Emmanuel Mawusi argues that unless restrained by the court, the defendants would continue their efforts to remove the body, a development he says could lead to unrest and undermine the authority of the Mawusi-Klu Family and the traditional leadership of Anfoega-Agata.
Reliefs Sought by Emmanuel Mawusi
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| Emmanuel Mawusi |
The plaintiff is asking the High Court to grant the following orders:
- A declaration that the remains of Anna Klu Apreku belong to the Mawusi-Klu Family of Anfoega-Agata under customary law.
- A perpetual injunction preventing the Apreku children or anyone acting on their behalf from interfering with the deceased's resting place.
- An order directing the Volta North Regional Police Commander to ensure compliance with any court orders and maintain peace.
- Any additional relief the court considers appropriate.
Apreku Children File Counter Suit
Several months later, the children of the deceased also commenced legal action at the High Court under Suit No. VR/HO/HC/E13/26/2026.
The plaintiffs are:
- Millicent Apreku
- Patience Apreku
- Prince Apreku
- Bless Apreku
They are suing:
- Rev. Father Raphael Tawiah
- Emmanuel Mawusi
- Richard Pidah
- George Agbezuge
- Bright Daffor
- Joseph Ngo
Children Allege Unlawful Exhumation
In their Statement of Claim, the Apreku children present a different version of events.
They state that their late mother expressly wished to be buried at Kpando Gadza, her husband's hometown.
According to the suit, before the funeral, discussions were held with both the maternal and paternal families.
The plaintiffs claim that Emmanuel Mawusi initially opposed the burial at Kpando Gadza but later agreed, allegedly after recounting a dream involving the deceased's mother.
The Statement of Claim further alleges that, following this agreement, the funeral arrangements proceeded, brochures were printed, church services were organised, musicians were hired, and all burial preparations were completed.
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| Rev. Father Raphael Tawiah |
However, shortly before the funeral, the plaintiffs claim Rev. Father Raphael Tawiah objected, insisting that the deceased should instead be buried at Anfoega-Agata and further claiming that only he was entitled to conduct the burial rites.
The plaintiffs say no consensus was reached to change the burial plans, and the deceased was therefore buried at Kpando Gadza on 28th February 2026 in accordance with what they describe as her final wishes.
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| Burial Footages |
Serious Allegations Against Defendants
The Apreku children allege that shortly after the burial, the grave was secretly opened and the body unlawfully exhumed during the night.
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| Exhumed Footages |
According to their suit, investigations by the Ghana Police Service linked the exhumation to the named defendants.
The plaintiffs further allege that:
- Emmanuel Mawusi admitted during police investigations to ordering the exhumation.
- Rev. Father Raphael Tawiah initially denied involvement but later admitted participating in the arrangements.
- Bright Daffor, Joseph Ngo, Richard Pidah and George Agbezuge participated in the operation.
- The body was transported in a Ford vehicle registration GT-4141-11, allegedly driven by George Agbezuge.
- Rev. Father Raphael Tawiah presided over a secret reburial at Anfoega-Agata Cemetery.
These are allegations contained in the plaintiffs' court filing and remain matters for determination by the court.
Claims of Psychological Trauma and Damages
The Apreku children state that the alleged exhumation caused severe emotional distress, humiliation, psychological trauma and public embarrassment.
They further allege that the defendants later agreed during police mediation to return the body to Kpando Gadza, but subsequently refused and instead petitioned the Attorney-General while initiating legal proceedings to halt police investigations.
The plaintiffs also state they have reason to believe the remains may have been tampered with and are asking the court to order forensic examination of the body.
Reliefs Sought by the Apreku Children
The plaintiffs are asking the High Court for:
- A declaration that the exhumation from Kpando Gadza Cemetery was unlawful.
- General, aggravated and punitive damages.
- GH¢10,000 in special damages.
- A court order directing forensic examination of the remains.
- An order that the remains be returned and reburied at Kpando Gadza Cemetery.
- A perpetual injunction preventing any future interference with the deceased's remains.
- Any additional orders the court deems appropriate.
Court Yet to Determine the Dispute
The two lawsuits present sharply contrasting accounts of the events surrounding the burial and exhumation of Mrs Anna Klu Apreku.
On one hand, Emmanuel Mawusi argues that customary law vests authority over the deceased's remains in the Mawusi-Klu Family of Anfoega-Agata. On the other hand, the Apreku children contend that their mother expressed a clear wish to be buried at Kpando Gadza, and that her subsequent exhumation was unlawful.
The High Court in Hohoe is expected to hear both matters and determine the legal and customary issues raised by the parties.
Below is the police report, Mawusi-Klu Family suit, and the counter suit by the deceased children for your perusal👇👇
Mawusi-Klu Family suit👇
The counter suit by the deceased children👇
Akpini News & Tours will continue to monitor proceedings and provide factual, balanced, and timely updates as the case progresses.
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