By Nadia Ntiamoah
The family of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo, together with the management and members of the Kristo Asafo Mission, has expressed profound gratitude to Ghanaians for the overwhelming support, goodwill and solidarity extended to them during the funeral and final transition of the renowned industrialist, inventor and religious leader.
The appreciation was conveyed by his daughter, former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament Sarah Adwoa Safo, during a thanksgiving service held at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi as the family brought the funeral rites of the late Apostle to a close.
The thanksgiving service marked the concluding phase of a prolonged period of mourning and funeral activities following the death of the founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission and the Kantanka Group, whose contributions to religion, technology, industrialisation and national development made him one of Ghana’s most recognised indigenous innovators.
Addressing a large congregation made up of Kristo Asafo members, family members, friends, sympathisers and admirers of the late Apostle, Adwoa Safo thanked the Ghanaian public for standing with the Kantanka family throughout the funeral process.
She said the support received from individuals, institutions, traditional authorities, religious organisations and ordinary Ghanaians had provided considerable comfort to the family at a difficult time.
According to her, the collective goodwill also contributed significantly to ensuring that her father received what the family considered a befitting final transition.
Bawumia Pays Tribute
The thanksgiving service also attracted former Vice President and 2028 New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who paid an emotional tribute to the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo.
Dr. Bawumia described the late industrialist as a father figure who treated him as one of his sons and consistently offered him guidance, encouragement and counsel.
He reflected on Apostle Safo’s strong conviction that Africans possessed the capacity to solve their own problems rather than depend entirely on solutions developed elsewhere.
According to Dr. Bawumia, the late Apostle’s life was a demonstration of the power of self-belief, enterprise, creativity and determination.
He said Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s work showed that African societies could confront their challenges by developing indigenous solutions and creating opportunities through innovation.
For Dr. Bawumia, the late Apostle’s legacy therefore extended beyond the Kristo Asafo Mission and Kantanka enterprises, touching on a broader philosophy of African self-reliance and development.
Former Officials Join Bawumia
Dr. Bawumia was accompanied to the thanksgiving service by a number of former government officials and political figures.
Among them were his Chief of Staff, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; former Minister of State in the Kufuor administration, Sampson Kwaku Boafo; and former Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Sam Pyne.
The gathering of the former Vice President and the other dignitaries underscored the wide range of political and public figures who had developed relationships with Apostle Kwadwo Safo during his lifetime.
The presence of the dignitaries also added a political and national dimension to a ceremony otherwise centred on faith, mourning, thanksgiving and remembrance.
Rainbow Appears During Service
One of the most talked-about moments during the thanksgiving service was the appearance of a rainbow in the sky.
The sight generated considerable excitement among members of the congregation, with many worshippers responding with prayers and expressions of gratitude.
Some members interpreted the rainbow symbolically, viewing it as a comforting sign associated with the late Apostle’s final transition and the conclusion of his earthly journey.
Such interpretations were expressions of faith and personal belief among members of the congregation rather than an independently established meaning attached to the phenomenon.
The moment nevertheless became an emotional part of the thanksgiving ceremony, with worshippers connecting it to the celebration of the late Apostle’s life and legacy.
Apostle’s Legacy Celebrated
The thanksgiving service brought together members of the Kristo Asafo community and sympathisers to reflect on the life and accomplishments of Apostle Emeritus Professor Ing. Kwadwo Safo.
For decades, the late Apostle combined religious ministry with a strong interest in technology, engineering and industrial development.
Through the Kristo Asafo Mission and the Kantanka brand, he promoted indigenous innovation and sought to demonstrate the capacity of Ghanaians and Africans to develop their own technological and industrial solutions.
His work in automobile manufacturing and other areas of technology became closely associated with his broader philosophy of African self-reliance.
His religious ministry also attracted a large following, making him a significant figure in thd religious and social landscape.
Family Brings Funeral to a Close
The thanksgiving service effectively brought the formal funeral period to a close, providing an opportunity for the Kantanka family, Kristo Asafo members and sympathisers to collectively celebrate the late Apostle’s life after weeks of mourning and public attention surrounding his funeral.
