BY ISSAH OLEGOR
Former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament Sarah Adwoa Safo has received praise from New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for what he described as her strength and determination in ensuring the funeral of her late father, Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, proceeded despite a bitter family dispute and legal challenges.
Dr Bawumia made the remarks when members of the Kantanka family paid a courtesy call on him on Friday, August 21, 2026, to express their appreciation for his attendance at the thanksgiving service held in honour of the late founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission and Kantanka Group.
The meeting offered an opportunity for the former Vice President to reflect on the controversy surrounding the funeral and commend Adwoa Safo for what he regarded as her firmness during a difficult period.
According to Dr Bawumia, the disagreements surrounding the funeral had generated considerable concern among members of the public and those close to the family.
He, however, singled out Adwoa Safo for praise, saying she remained resolute and ensured that the funeral arrangements were carried through despite the challenges.
“The issues that came up got us all worried, but I want to commend you for standing up to conduct the funeral. Thank you for what you did. They say you are a woman of strength,” Dr Bawumia told her.
He went further to describe the former MP as a “Woman King”, a remark that appeared to underscore his admiration for the manner in which she handled the difficult circumstances surrounding her father’s final rites.
“I also came for the thanksgiving service and we all saw the rainbow, so we know that Apostle is happy,” he said.
The funeral of Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka had become the centre of a major family disagreement, particularly between Adwoa Safo and her brother, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, who has since assumed leadership of the Kristo Asafo Church.
The disagreement escalated beyond family discussions and eventually entered the courts, attracting significant public attention.
Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena had sought legal intervention to prevent the funeral from proceeding, resulting in an injunction application and a temporary halt to aspects of the planned burial arrangements. The dispute subsequently became a subject of public discussion as competing positions emerged over who had the authority to determine how the late Apostle should be buried.
Despite the legal challenge, the funeral eventually proceeded. The development brought an end to one of the most closely followed family disputes surrounding the burial of a prominent Ghanaian religious and business figure, although the circumstances leading to the disagreement generated considerable controversy.
Adwoa Safo has subsequently offered her own explanation of the dispute, pointing to Akan customary practices concerning the role of the matrilineal family in funeral arrangements.
She has maintained that the responsibility for arranging her father’s burial traditionally rested with the matrilineal side of the family, rather than solely with his children.
She explained that she repeatedly had to remind people of this customary position because some believed that, as his daughter, she should personally take charge of burying her father.
“I had to consistently tell people it is the matrilineal family that is in charge of the burial, even though people were telling me I am the child and supposed to bury my father,” she said.
The controversy also took a more serious turn as tensions surrounding the funeral reportedly resulted in a shooting incident, further deepening concerns about the level of disagreement within the family.
The late Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka was a prominent figure whose influence extended across religion, manufacturing, technology and entrepreneurship.
