KANTAKA BURIAL WAR

Former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has dismissed suggestions that the funeral and burial arrangements for the late Apostle Dr. Ing. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka have been suspended. She insists that all preparations have been completed and that the ceremonies will commence as scheduled on Thursday, July 30.

The renowned inventor, spiritual leader, and industrialist who founded the Kristo Asafo Mission and the Kantanka Group of Companies, passed away on Thursday, September 11, 2025. However, his death has been followed by intense disagreements between his children and other factions of the family.

His son, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena I, the named Head of the Safo Family and leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana, announced at a press conference on Monday that disagreements over the funeral arrangements remained unresolved, making it impossible to confirm a burial date.

Responding to these claims in an interview with Kwame Nkrumah Tikese on Okay FM on Tuesday morning, Adwoa Safo maintained that the funeral committee had concluded all necessary arrangements after extensive consultations with family members, traditional authorities, and other key stakeholders.

She insisted that the funeral programme will begin on Thursday, July 30, with the burial at Gomoa Mpota in the Central Region, followed by the main funeral service at Independence Square in Accra on July 31. A thanksgiving service, she added, will be held in Asante Mampong on August 8.

“I am using this medium, Okay FM, to tell every Kristo Asafo member that if you love our Papa, join us to mourn him,” Adwoa Safo stated.

She continued: “Today, [Akofena] says you are going to court. Is it not the same court that placed an injunction on you to crown yourself Head, yet you went ahead because you have support? In law, when someone dies, his WILL is read after burial. After the WILL is read, we call something a probate and you need to go to court to apply. It gives you the power of the WILL and ensures the WILL is accepted. If not, it is not accepted. I want to ask him and his lawyers if a probate application has been done.”

She further questioned: “Also, I want to ask my brother: what was the situation between him and my dad before he died? Papa’s funeral is coming on live and in colour on 30th and 31st of July, and I am reminding him and his boys that they are under a bond to be on good behaviour,” she gave the firm assurance.

Adwoa Safo disclosed that security arrangements had been significantly strengthened for the funeral following concerns over possible disturbances. According to her, the family has formally written to the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies requesting protection throughout the funeral activities. She added that several prominent personalities have confirmed their participation in the final funeral rites.

“We have written to the Ghana Police for protection and all security agencies. We have called dignitaries about it and confirmation has been established. The Asantehene, the Speaker of Parliament, the Flagbearer of the NPP, current and former Chiefs of Staff, Leaders of Parliament, and former Leaders of Parliament have all been invited,” Adwoa Safo said.

“The man has lived a good life, and I will not let you disgrace me or leave the funeral for you. I am willing to give my dad a befitting burial. The reason we waited and did not do the funeral earlier was because the church was building a museum, and our father’s wish was for him to be buried at the museum. Even with that, they were at the church saying I refused them from building the museum, yet this same person [Akofena] was part of the museum planning committee.”

She concluded: “On the 30th of July, we will go to Gomoa Mpota to bury my late father. On the 31st of July, we will be at Independence Square to hold the funeral service. Then, on the 8th of August, we will travel to Asante Mampong in Kumasi for the thanksgiving service. So everyone should disregard the rumours that the funeral will not take place or that it has been cancelled.

“All roads lead to Gomoa Mpota on the 30th and the 31st and to Independence Square. On August 8, all roads lead to Kumasi for the Thanksgiving Service. My focus is now on the funeral, and my priority is to give our dad a befitting burial. My siblings—with the exception of him [Akofena]—support the July-ending funeral. I will not think of meeting him; what if this time, he shoots me with 100 bullets? Preparations are done already, and he will be given a chair as a son if he decides to show up. If not, he can go and have his own funeral later.”