By Daniel Bampoe
The deepening family dispute over the funeral of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka has taken another dramatic turn, with former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo, openly challenging the authority of her brother, Nana Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena, to suspend the burial arrangements of their late father.
In a strongly worded response to an earlier announcement by the Head of the Kantanka Family and Leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana (KAMOG), who declared that the funeral slated for July 30 and 31 had been postponed pending legal action, Adwoa Safo insisted that her brother has “no locus” to interfere with preparations that have already gone through the appropriate family, customary and traditional processes.
Speaking in an interview on Angel Morning Show, the former legislator urged members of the Kristo Asafo Church, sympathisers and the general public to disregard Akofena’s directive, stressing that the funeral of Apostle Kwadwo Safo would proceed as scheduled.
According to her, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena neither played any meaningful role in planning of the funeral nor contributed financially towards any of the activities organised following their father’s death, making his attempt to halt the burial both unjustified and without authority.
He Did Nothing After Our Father’s Death
Adwoa Safo disclosed what she described as the true sequence of events following the passing of Apostle Kwadwo Safo, saying that from the day their father died until the organisation of the 40-day observation, her brother remained absent from every major planning process.
According to her, all arrangements, meetings and logistical preparations were undertaken without his involvement.
She alleged that despite contributing neither ideas nor financial support towards the funeral preparations, Akofena appeared at the 40-day observation with a large entourage simply to make an appearance before mourners.
She maintained that his presence at the programme did not reflect any contribution towards its organisation.
The former MP questioned why someone who had not participated in the planning process would now seek to stop a funeral that had taken months of preparation.
Questions Over Earlier Funeral Promise
Adwoa Safo also reminded the public that her brother had previously announced his own intention to organise their father’s funeral.
According to her, Akofena publicly assured Ghanaians that he would announce a date for the burial.
She questioned why that commitment was never fulfilled.
“If he could not honour his own publicly announced funeral arrangements, on what basis does he now seek to stop one that has been meticulously planned?” she asked.
She described the latest attempt to halt the funeral as irresponsible and unfair to the memory of their late father.
I Owe My Father This Final Honour
Speaking emotionally during the interview, Adwoa Safo said her determination to organise a befitting funeral was driven by both love and duty.
She said Apostle Kwadwo Safo dedicated his entire life to serving humanity, promoting indigenous industrialisation and advancing scientific innovation, and deserved a farewell worthy of those accomplishments.
According to her, ensuring that he receives such a burial is a responsibility she owes him for the sacrifices he made not only for his family but also for Ghana and the Kristo Asafo Mission.
She stressed that no amount of opposition would discourage her from fulfilling that obligation.
Reveals Father’s Final Instructions
The former legislator further disclosed that she remained by her father’s bedside during his final moments.
According to her, before Apostle Kwadwo Safo passed away, he personally entrusted her with a number of responsibilities concerning matters to be carried out after his death.
She said those instructions were deeply personal and sacred.
Hon. Adwoa Safo explained that she considers it both a moral obligation and a solemn duty to honour those final wishes.
She indicated that her actions regarding the funeral have been guided by the confidence her father reposed in her before his passing.
Manhyia Palace Played Key Role
Adwoa Safo also dismissed suggestions that the funeral programme had been put together unilaterally.
She revealed that preparations were undertaken in close consultation with the Manhyia Palace.
According to her, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II personally played a significant role in determining the dates for the funeral.
She stated that the programme received the blessing of the Asantehene and was processed through the appropriate customary channels before the dates were announced publicly.
She argued that those traditional processes could not simply be overturned by an individual announcement.
National Leaders Already Invited
The former MP disclosed that invitations had already been sent to President John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, senior government officials, Members of Parliament, traditional rulers, religious leaders and numerous distinguished personalities.
According to her, many of the invited dignitaries had already confirmed their participation in the funeral ceremonies.
She added that extensive logistical planning had already been completed and public awareness created across the country.
“There Is No Basis to Cancel the Funeral”
Adwoa Safo insisted that every major arrangement for the funeral had been concluded.
According to her, venues had been secured, ceremonial plans finalised, logistics completed and preparations brought to an advanced stage.
“At this stage, there is simply no basis whatsoever for anyone to suggest that the funeral will be cancelled,” she declared.
She therefore urged members of the Kristo Asafo Church and the wider public to ignore any contrary announcements suggesting that the funeral had been suspended.
