By Grace Zigah
The dispute surrounding the succession of the late founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission, Apostle Kwadwo Safo, took another dramatic turn on Tuesday when nine accused persons, including Israel Kwadwo Safo, popularly known as Akofena, were granted bail by a court in Accra over their alleged involvement in the shooting incident involving former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo.
The court admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 each with two sureties to be justified.
As part of the conditions, the court directed the sureties to sign justification forms before the accused persons could enjoy their freedom pending trial.
The nine accused persons pleaded not guilty to multiple charges brought against them by the prosecution, including the use of offensive weapons, possession of offensive weapons, discharging firearms in public, and causing unlawful damage.
The case has since become one of the most talked-about legal battles in the country, largely because it is intertwined with the bitter succession dispute within the influential Kristo Asafo Mission and the Kwadwo Safo family.
The court proceedings follow the arrest of Akofena and several associates after an alleged shooting incident targeting Sarah Adwoa Safo, former MP for Dome Kwabenya and elder child of the departed industrialist that occurred on June 21, 2026.
According to police investigations, the incident emerged during heightened tensions between rival factions within the Kristo Asafo Mission over the future leadership of the church following the death of its founder.
Police investigations began after allegations surfaced that former Sarah Adwoa Safo had come under gunfire while attempting to serve court documents connected to legal efforts to halt a planned installation ceremony intended to declare Akofena as leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission.
Following the complaint, Israel Kwadwo Safo voluntarily reported himself to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command on June 22 before being transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters to assist with investigations.
Recovery of Ammunition
Subsequent police operations led to searches at his residence in Kwabenya and on a vehicle linked to him.
The search reportedly resulted in the recovery of a large quantity of ammunition and firearms.
According to police, investigators retrieved 120 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 50 rounds of .45 calibre ammunition, 25 rounds of .40 calibre ammunition, several loaded magazines and two Glock pistols.
Police further disclosed that one of the recovered pistols was legally registered in Akofena’s name.
The investigation later widened, leading to the arrest of additional suspects believed to have information relevant to the case.
Authorities subsequently assembled a case against nine individuals, all of whom are now before the court facing criminal charges linked to the alleged shooting incident.
The criminal proceedings are unfolding against the backdrop of a longstanding succession controversy that has engulfed the Kristo Asafo Mission since the passing of Apostle Kwadwo Safo on September 11, 2025.
For years, Akofena had been publicly regarded as the heir apparent after his father reportedly designated him in 2017 as successor to oversee both the church and the numerous businesses under the Kristo Asafo conglomerate.
However, that arrangement has become the subject of fierce dispute.
A faction of the family led by Sarah Adwoa Safo maintains that the late founder revoked Akofena’s succession mandate in 2024 after becoming dissatisfied with developments within the church and some of the businesses.
According to that faction, Apostle Kwadwo Safo subsequently appointed Adwoa Safo as Head of the Kwadwo Safo Family and established a new succession roadmap that excluded Akofena from future leadership consideration.
Supporters of Adwoa Safo insist that she has since been carrying out responsibilities assigned to her by their late father and acting as the principal representative of the family.
On the other hand, Akofena’s supporters continue to challenge those claims, resulting in deep divisions within the church and among members of the family.
The dispute has generated multiple legal battles, competing claims to authority, public statements and growing tensions among followers of the mission.
The alleged shooting incident has now added a criminal dimension to what was previously largely a family and ecclesiastical leadership conflict.
With the accused persons now granted bail and pleading not guilty to all charges, attention is expected to shift to the courtroom as prosecutors seek to establish the facts surrounding the alleged discharge of firearms and related offences.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has assured the public that investigations remain ongoing and that all aspects of the matter, including the circumstances of the alleged shooting, the recovered weapons and ammunition, and the possible involvement of other individuals, will be thoroughly examined.
