The planned burial of the founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana and celebrated industrialist, Apostle Professor Emeritus Kwadwo Safo, has been suspended following a dispute over the implementation of his final wishes.

The funeral, which was scheduled for Thursday, July 30, 2026, will not proceed until the courts determine issues surrounding the execution of the late Apostle’s will.

Nana Kojo Safo Akofena, Head of the Kantanka Family and Leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana, announced the suspension of the burial arrangements, saying all funeral activities would remain on hold pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

He explained that the decision followed unsuccessful attempts to resolve disagreements among family members and reach consensus on how the burial should be conducted.

According to him, efforts by traditional authorities, church leaders and other respected individuals to broker peace and unite the family did not produce the desired outcome.

The Kantanka Family has consequently instructed its legal representatives, Kwame Gyan and Associates, led by Professor Kwame Gyan, to begin legal action aimed at ensuring that the directives contained in Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s last will and testament are respected.

Addressing a press conference in Accra, Nana Akofena appealed for calm among members of the Kristo Asafo Mission, sympathisers and the general public, urging them to allow the legal process to take its course.

He stressed that there would be no burial ceremony on July 30 as earlier announced.

Attempts at reconciliation

Nana Akofena described the decision to publicly address the matter as one of the most difficult steps he had taken, noting that issues involving the family and the church would ordinarily be resolved through dialogue and customary processes.

He said recent developments had resulted in confusion and speculation, making it necessary to clarify the family’s position.

Speaking as both the head of the Kantanka Family and leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission, he said his priority had always been to ensure that Apostle Kwadwo Safo received a dignified funeral that reflected his contribution to Ghana and his years of service.

He explained that since the industrialist’s death, several efforts had been made with members of the royal family and other stakeholders to bring all sides together and organise a befitting farewell.

However, he said those initiatives had failed to achieve the unity and agreement needed for the burial arrangements to proceed.

Nana Akofena said he personally engaged family members, including his elder sister and former Minister of State, Sarah Adwoa Safo, as part of efforts to restore peace and ensure that their father’s final rites were conducted in an atmosphere of harmony.

He added that church elders, family heads, chiefs, queen mothers and other traditional leaders were also invited to help resolve the disagreements, but the attempts at reconciliation remained unsuccessful.

Dispute over will

Nana Akofena said expectations were high after the reading of Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s final will that all instructions contained in the document would be carried out.

He noted that the will was read under the leadership of Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo, but alleged that some of the directives had not been implemented.

Among the concerns raised was what he described as the failure to hand over custody of the late Apostle’s remains to the Kantanka Family, which he said was contrary to provisions contained in the will.

He further claimed that other instructions made by the deceased had also not been fulfilled, contributing to the disagreements over the funeral arrangements.

According to him, the unresolved issues made it impossible for the family to proceed with the burial despite efforts to find an amicable solution.

Nana Akofena said the family had exhausted all avenues for settlement and had therefore decided to seek judicial intervention.

He announced that the family’s lawyers had been instructed to commence legal proceedings to enable the courts to interpret and enforce the wishes expressed in Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s will.