BY Grace Zigah
The controversy surrounding the shooting of former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has taken a dramatic turn after the Ghana Police Service announced the arrest of six private security guards in connection with the incident that occurred at Kwabenya on Sunday, June 21, 2026.
The development has further intensified public scrutiny of the growing succession dispute within the Kristo Asafo Mission following the death of its founder, Apostle Kwadwo Safo, and has raised fresh questions about the circumstances that led to the violent confrontation.
A statement issued by the Accra Regional Police Command confirmed that six private security personnel had been taken into custody as investigations into the shooting continue.
According to the police, a subsequent search operation led to the recovery of five pump-action guns, a Taurus pistol loaded with seven rounds of 9mm ammunition, an additional magazine containing five rounds of ammunition, as well as communication equipment believed to be relevant to the ongoing investigation.
The police disclosed that officers from the National Operations Directorate and the Intelligence Directorate, who were on a special assignment, received a distress call from a residence at Kwabenya and immediately proceeded to the scene.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, established that a ceremony was being held at the residence of Tamakloe Safo Jehoshaphat, popularly known as Akofena, when Sarah Adwoa Safo reportedly arrived and requested access to the premises.
Police stated that she was denied entry into the compound.
Investigators further revealed that armed security personnel stationed at the residence allegedly discharged firearms during the confrontation, resulting in injuries to the former legislator.
Authorities also confirmed that Adwoa Safo’s vehicle sustained multiple gunshot impacts during the incident.
The police statement noted that the six suspects and all retrieved exhibits have since been transferred to the Police Headquarters to assist ongoing investigations.
Law enforcement authorities say efforts are underway to identify and arrest all other individuals who may have played a role in the incident.
The latest arrests come barely hours after police confirmed that Adwoa Safo suffered a gunshot injury to her left ear and sought treatment following the shooting.
The former legislator remains in stable condition and continues to receive medical care.
However, while police investigations appear to point toward the discharge of firearms by private security personnel, the leadership of Kristo Asafo Mission has strongly disputed several narratives circulating in the media and on social media.
Kristo Asafo Narration
In a separate statement issued by the church, the leadership claimed that Adwoa Safo arrived at the church premises after a lawful church function and allegedly attempted to force her way into the property with her vehicle.
According to the church, she drove into the entrance gates, striking two metallic gates and causing extensive damage.
The church leadership stated that numerous worshippers and invited guests were present inside the premises at the time, including individuals seated close to the entrance area.
They argued that the incident created a serious threat to public safety and that security personnel intervened solely to prevent harm to those attending the programme.
The church further rejected claims circulating on social media that Adwoa Safo had been deliberately shot by her brother or that there had been a coordinated attack against her.
According to the statement, church officials described such reports as false, misleading and unsupported by the information available to them.
“We categorically reject these allegations as false and misleading. To the best of our knowledge and based on information presently available to us, no such shooting occurred,” the church leadership stated.
The organization subsequently called for an impartial investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
The confrontation is unfolding against the backdrop of a bitter succession battle that has engulfed the Kristo Asafo Mission since the death of Apostle Kwadwo Safo in September 2025.
The late founder, revered by many as a pioneering religious leader, inventor and industrialist, built one of the most influential indigenous institutions through the Kristo Asafo Mission and the Kantanka Group of Companies.
Following his death, disagreements emerged regarding who should succeed him as spiritual and administrative head of the church.
At the center of the dispute is Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, known in private life as Israel Kwadwo Safo, who has been proposed by some factions within the church as the next leader of the mission.
However, his proposed elevation has faced stiff opposition from some family members and church officials.
The succession dispute recently entered the courtroom when two senior church members filed a lawsuit at the High Court in Accra seeking to halt plans to install him as leader.
The plaintiffs argue that constitutional amendments made before Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s death disqualify him from assuming leadership of the church.
Sources familiar with the family dispute indicate that tensions have been building for months over both church leadership and wider family issues following the death of the patriarch.
While some reports have suggested that disputes over inheritance and family property may be contributing to divisions within the family, other sources insist the latest confrontation is primarily linked to disagreements over leadership of the church rather than inheritance matters.
According to individuals close to the family, Apostle Kwadwo Safo left behind a will, and legal processes relating to probate are expected to proceed following his funeral and burial ceremonies scheduled for later this year.
Nonetheless, concerns reportedly persist among some family members and church followers regarding the suitability of Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena to lead the organization.
Sources claim that Adwoa Safo is among those who have openly opposed his ascension to the leadership of the mission.
The police investigation is expected to play a crucial role in establishing what transpired at the Kwabenya residence and determining whether criminal offences were committed.
