Abu Banda Family Disowns Unauthorised State House Funeral for Late Alhaji Asoma Banda

The Abu Banda Family has strongly disassociated itself from an unauthorised funeral ceremony being organised for the late Dr. Alhaji Asoma Abu Banda at the State House in Accra.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Alhaji Mohammed Abu Banda, Head of the Abu Banda Family and Chief of Banda in the Ashanti Region, described the ceremony as illegitimate and called on the public to disregard it.

According to him, the event is being spearheaded by one Alhaji Abdullah Khalifa, also known as Alhaji Abomour, who he emphasized is not a member of the Abu Banda Family and holds no authority to represent it.

“I want it to be known that this unauthorised funeral at the State House is not supported by the State nor the family,” Alhaji Mohammed Abu Banda stated. “We, the family of the late Alhaji Asoma Abu Banda, categorically disassociate ourselves from this event.”

He further clarified that the late Alhaji Asoma Banda, who passed away on March 1, 2025, was buried according to his wishes at his personal mosque located in the Airport Residential Area, Accra. The burial, he noted, was in line with Islamic customs and the personal instructions left by the deceased.

“My brother requested to be buried in the mosque he built in honour of the religion he loved so dearly,” he said. “He also asked that his final resting place be prepared as a mausoleum for two, so that his wife of 51 years, Mrs. Cassandra Asoma Banda, may be laid to rest beside him when the time comes.”

Alhaji Mohammed Abu Banda expressed appreciation to all those who supported the family during the funeral, particularly former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, who both participated in the burial rites.

The Family Head reiterated that any other funeral ceremony not sanctioned by the family or religious authorities should be regarded as null and void.

He invited the public to attend the official 40-day funeral service of the late Alhaji Asoma Banda on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at the deceased’s mosque in the Airport Residential Area.

The service will be led by the National Chief Imam and will include Quran recitation in honour of the departed.

“The only duty I have as the head of this family is to uphold our faith and my brother’s final wishes,” he added. “We urge everyone to respect the sanctity of those wishes.”

The family was supported by two private legal practitioners, Mr. Martin Kpebu and Ms Irene Aborchie-Nyahe.