The burial of the founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana and renowned industrialist, Apostle Professor Emeritus Kwadwo Safo, scheduled for Thursday, July 30, 2026, will not take place following an unresolved dispute over the implementation of his final wishes.
The Head of the Kantanka Family and Leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana, Nana Kojo Safo Akofena, announced the suspension of all burial arrangements, declaring that no funeral would be held until the courts determine issues arising from the late Apostle’s will.
He said the decision became necessary after extensive efforts to unite members of the family and secure agreement on the burial arrangements failed, despite interventions by traditional authorities, church elders and respected personalities.
The Kantanka Family has consequently instructed its solicitors, Kwame Gyan and Associates, led by Professor Kwame Gyan, to initiate legal proceedings to ensure that the wishes expressed in Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s last will are enforced.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, Nana Akofena appealed to members of the Kristo Asafo Mission, sympathisers and the public to remain calm and avoid actions capable of undermining the legal process, stressing that there would be no burial on July 30.
Family efforts
Nana Akofena said convening the press conference was one of the most difficult decisions he had ever taken, explaining that matters concerning the family and the church should ordinarily be resolved privately through dialogue and established customary processes.
He explained that recent developments had generated uncertainty, speculation and misinformation, making it necessary for him to publicly clarify the family’s position.
Speaking in his dual capacity as Head of the Kantanka Family and Leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission, he said his primary objective had always been to ensure that the late Apostle received a dignified burial that reflected his status and lifelong service to the nation.
He said that since the passing of Apostle Kwadwo Safo, every reasonable effort had been made, in collaboration with members of the royal family, to unite all branches of the family to organise a fitting funeral.
He said, however, that those efforts had not yielded the level of unity and consensus required to proceed with the burial arrangements.
Reconciliation attempts
Nana Akofena said he personally initiated several reconciliation efforts involving his siblings, including his elder sister, former Minister of State, Sarah Adwoa Safo, to promote harmony within the family.
He said those engagements were undertaken solely to ensure that their father’s final journey would be characterised by peace, unity and mutual respect.
Beyond the immediate family, he said, respected church elders, family heads, chiefs, queen mothers and eminent traditional leaders were invited to intervene in an attempt to restoreunity.
Despite those goodwill efforts, he said, reconciliation remained elusive.
Will, legal action
Nana Akofena said expectations were high after the reading of Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s last will and testament that every directive contained in the document would be implemented.
He explained that the reading of the will was led by Ms Safo.
He maintained, however, that some provisions of the will had not been carried out.
Among the issues he raised was what he described as the failure to hand over custody of the late Apostle’s mortal remains to the Kantanka family, which he said was contrary to the provisions contained in the will.
He indicated that other directives expressed by the deceased had also not been implemented, creating further disagreement over the burial arrangements.
He said those developments had complicated efforts to build consensus among the family and delayed preparations towards the funeral.
Nana Akofena said the family had exhausted all available avenues for an amicable settlement before deciding to seek legal redress.
He announced that the family had instructed its lawyers to commence legal proceedings for the courts to interpret and enforce the wishes contained in the will.
