The Kristo Asafo gathering was simply to introduce Akofena, no installation occurred — Lawyer
Lawyer for the Kristo Asafo Mission, Nana Kofi Safo Kantanka, has clarified that the gathering which preceded the violent disturbances was strictly organised to formally introduce Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena as the designated successor to the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo, and not to install or inaugurate him as the new leader of the church.
He explained that the actual installation of a successor was to be undertaken only after the burial and funeral rites of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo, and following a consensus-building process among family members and key stakeholders regarding who should assume leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission.
His clarification comes in the aftermath of rising tensions within the Kristo Asafo family over the succession arrangement, which escalated into a chaotic incident reportedly leaving former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, with a gunshot wound.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, June 22, Nana Kofi Safo Kantanka said the entire process was guided by the church’s constitution, which sets out the procedures to be followed after the passing of the founder.
He noted that the constitution provides that the Chairman of the Council of Elders temporarily assumes the administrative duties of the founder in an acting capacity for three months. During this period, the Council of Elders is expected to initiate and oversee the selection of a substantive successor.
According to him, the process commenced shortly after the death of Apostle Kwadwo Safo, involving consultations and assessments of all eligible candidates. He explained that, under the constitution, eligibility for succession is restricted to the male children of the founder.
The lawyer further disclosed that all three eligible sons of the late Apostle took part in the selection process, which he said was fully documented and conducted under the supervision of the Council of Elders. After the consultations, the council settled on Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena as its preferred candidate.
He added that throughout the process, the Council of Elders engaged both male and female children of the late founder to hear their views before reaching a final decision, stressing that no objections were raised at the time of consultation.
“The purpose of the gathering was simply to introduce Akofena. It was not an inauguration, installation or coronation. The formal processes were expected to take place after the funeral rites of the late founder, that is what we were told by the council,” he explained.
His comments come amid deepening disagreement over the succession process. The family of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo has earlier issued a statement urging the public to disregard what it described as the purported assumption of leadership of the Kristo Asafo Church by Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena.
The family insists it does not recognize any installation of a new leader, arguing that such a move would contradict the directives of the late founder and the provisions of the church’s constitution as amended in 2024.