Sarah Adwoa Safo and Kwadwo Safo Akofena
LAWYER FOR former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament (MP), Sarah Adwoa Safo, says the will of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka does not designate anyone as leader of Kristo Asafo Mission.
The clarification comes a day after reports said a High Court in Accra had confirmed Kwadwo Safo Akofena, son of the late founder, as the new leader of the church.
Addressing the media yesterday, Lawyer Kwame Akuffo said the reading of the will does not automatically settle the church’s leadership. “Effective, I have the instructions of my clients to clarify these matters. The reading of a will in itself does not settle the leadership position, because the Kristo Asafo Mission operates on the basis of a constitutional process,” Mr. Akuffo stated.
He added that the constitutional process “is not anchored on a will, which is yet to be admitted to probate.” According to him, a careful reading of the will, particularly Clause 27, shows it only refers to a male biological child being eligible to ascend to leadership, but does not name any individual.
“There is no part of the will which anointed any individual as the next leader of the church. No one is mentioned in that will as the leader of the church,” he said. He described reports suggesting otherwise as “inadequate, improper, untidy, and therefore completely wrong.”
Mr. Akuffo also alleged that an interim injunction had been obtained and served on Mr. Akofena prior to the reported installation, but was disregarded. “Despite the service of the injunction, he went ahead and engaged in a process which… is null and void,” the lawyer said. He further claimed the process that took place on Sunday, June 21, 2026, was “defective, improper, untidy, and has no basis to stand in law,” adding that “to be able to try and put this untidy process into motion, they had to shoot somebody, which turns out to be my client.”
He added, “Subsequently, he was designated as the successor by the gentleman upon his passing. It was the same gentleman who initiated the repeal of that constitutional provision, and Akofena was removed as the designated leader. So by the time his father was dying, Akofena was not the designated leader of the church.”
Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, founder of the Kantanka Group and Kristo Asafo Mission, passed away on September 11, 2025. Multiple reports following the reading of his will suggested Mr. Akofena had been confirmed as successor to the “Kantanka Empire,” a development seen as a setback for his elder sister, Sarah Adwoa Safo. The matter is expected to return to court for further clarification.
Osebo Retraction
This comments come after Ghanaian fashion entrepreneur Osebo the Zaraman initially claimed that Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka’s will named Akofena as the sole heir to the Kantanka Empire. However, Osebo later retracted the claim, explaining that he had been misinformed after reviewing the contents of the will.
“I know a lot of Ghanaians will insult me, but I don’t care. What I am concerned about is the truth, and I must say I was misled to make the first declaration.
“Adwoa Safo’s lawyer, Gary Nimako, has sent me the document and paragraph 27 states that any of papa’s sons, Akofena, Nana Yaw Abraham, and Obed Kwadwo Safo Jr., could succeed him,” he disclosed.
According to an earlier report, Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena received an emotional hero’s welcome at his residence after the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka’s will allegedly declared him the next of kin to the Kristo Asafo Mission.
Supporters, including some family members, knelt before Akofena and celebrated his arrival, with the emotional reception moving him to tears.
A court had earlier halted the installation of Akofena as leader of Kristo Asafo Mission after two senior members of the church, Kweku Agyenim Boateng, a former Deputy General Secretary, and Seth Appiah Richard Brown, filed a suit at the High Court in Accra challenging the legitimacy of the succession process.
Shooting Incident
The installation process itself led to Adwoa Safo sustaining gunshot injury after she had gone to the house of her younger brother on June 21.
Kwadwo Safo Akofena and eight others were arrested following the shooting incident and admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties. They are expected back in court on September 30, 2026.
Meanwhile, family of the late Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka has revealed that the July 30 to August 1, 2026 dates set for the final burial rites remain unchanged despite Adwoa Safo’s current health status.
According to Obed Kwadwo Safo, youngest son of the late Apostle Safo Kantanka, while the current health condition of the former lawmaker Adwoa Safo worsens, the final burial rites date remains unchanged as plans are far advanced to ensure that their father receives a befitting burial.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke