Apostle Safo Kantanka's Burial Halted: Family Takes Will Dispute to Court

The final funeral rites and planned burial of the late Apostle Prof. Emeritus Kwadwo Safo have been thrown into uncertainty, stemming from significant disagreements within the Kantanka Family regarding the implementation of his Last Will and Testament.

Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena I, identifying himself as the Head of the Kantanka Family and Leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana (KAMOG), has announced the family's decision to pursue legal action. In a press statement issued on a Monday, Nana Akofena I explained that this drastic step followed unsuccessful attempts to resolve internal family disagreements over the arrangements for the burial of the revered founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission. He had previously expected that the wishes contained in the late Apostle Safo’s will, which was read by former Member of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo, would be faithfully implemented.

However, Nana Akofena I expressed regret that, in his view, the implementation of those wishes has not proceeded as contemplated by the Will. A central point of contention is that the Kantanka Family has not been given custody of the mortal remains of their late father, despite explicit provisions within the Will. This, along with other matters where the late Apostle Safo's expressed wishes have not been honored, has further complicated efforts to achieve unity and consensus regarding his burial and final funeral rites.

Numerous attempts were made after Apostle Safo’s death to unite the family and reach a common position on the funeral arrangements. These efforts involved various stakeholders, including members of the Aduana Kotoko Royal Family, church elders, chiefs, queen mothers, and other traditional leaders. Nana Akofena I personally reached out to his siblings, including Sarah Adwoa Safo, in an effort to promote reconciliation. Despite these engagements, the desired reconciliation was not achieved, an outcome he described as disappointing.

Consequently, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena I and his family have now instructed their solicitors, Kwame Gyan & Associates, led by the eminent Prof. Kwame Gyan, to commence the necessary legal proceedings. The objective is to seek appropriate relief from the courts and ensure that the wishes expressed in their late father’s Last Will and Testament are given full legal effect. He emphasized that this decision was taken with great reluctance, only after exhausting every reasonable avenue for an amicable resolution. While the legal process begins, he appealed to members of the Kristo Asafo Mission, the Kantanka Family, and the public to remain calm and avoid taking any unilateral action or circulating unverified information that could undermine the ongoing legal process or further deepen divisions within the family. He also expressed confidence that the courts would ensure that the wishes of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo are respected, urging all stakeholders to preserve the legacy of a man he described as devoted to faith, innovation, industrialization, and national development.

In a related development, the leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission has dismissed reports circulating on social media that its founder, Apostle Dr. Ing. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, would be buried on July 30, describing the information as false and misleading. At a press conference on Monday, July 27, Akofena Safo Kantanka, another son of the late founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission, stated unequivocally that no date had been fixed for the burial of the renowned inventor, industrialist, and religious leader. He urged members of the church, sympathizers, and the general public to disregard all reports regarding the funeral arrangements, stressing,