Gunshot Misses Adwoa’s Head, Grazes Her Left Ear

A heated leadership succession dispute within the Kristo Asafo Mission turned violent on Sunday, June 21, 2026, when gunfire was exchanged at the Akofena Palace in Kwabenya, Accra, resulting in the injury of former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo.

The incident occurred as supporters of Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, the son of the late founder, gathered for his installation as the new leader of the church, a move that has reportedly been met with opposition from some family members.

According to a statement from the Ghana Police Service, preliminary investigations indicate that Adwoa Safo sustained a gunshot injury to her left ear during the events at her late father’s residence.

The statement said she subsequently reported the incident to the Kwabenya Police and presented her vehicle, a black Toyota Landcruiser with registration number GN 3482-24, which bore visible gunshot damage. The Police statement said the vehicle has been retained for forensic examination by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as part of an ongoing investigation into the incident.

Witnesses reported that at least 15 rounds of ammunition were discharged during the confrontation, with one bullet grazing ear and neck of the former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.

Photos circulating on social media depicted a woman, identified as Ms. Adwoa Safo, on a hospital bed with facial wounds, alongside images of her vehicle riddled with what is believed to be bullet holes. Sources close to the former MP confirmed that she is in a stable condition and receiving medical attention at a facility in East Legon.

However, accounts of the incident remain conflicting. Nana Kofi Kantanka, the lawyer for the Kristo Asafo Church, presented a different narrative on JoyNews. He alleged that Ms. Adwoa Safo arrived at the venue and attempted to forcefully gain entry by ramming her vehicle against the southern gate and, failing that, the northern gate.

“The information I got was that she fired the first shot and then banged the gate with her car. The private security also knew that the lives of people were at risk, so they were giving warning shots,” Mr. Kantanka told the media.

The violence has brought into sharp focus the bitter disagreement over the succession of the late Apostle Emeritus Kwadwo Safo, the founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission and the Kantanka Group of Companies, who passed away in September 2025.

The installation of Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, which was ultimately held on Sunday, has been a contentious issue, with some family members challenging the move in court. Reports indicate that an earlier attempt to install him was halted by a court injunction, intensifying the dispute.

The Ghana Police Service has significantly reinforced security at the Akofena Palace to maintain order and prevent further disturbances. While the police investigation is ongoing to establish the full facts and identify all individuals involved, the incident serves as a stark escalation in the dispute over the legacy and leadership of one of Ghana’s most prominent religious and industrialist figures.