The final testament of renowned Ghanaian inventor, industrialist and founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission, Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, has emerged publicly, shedding light on the instructions he left concerning his burial, funeral rites and the future leadership of his family.

The document, which was prepared on August 25, 2022, by legal practitioner Asamoah Amoako, outlines the late religious leader’s personal wishes, including who should oversee his funeral and the individual he appointed to lead his family after his passing.

One of the most talked-about directives in the will is Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka’s decision to exclude his maternal relatives from having any authority over his remains or funeral arrangements. Although he made it clear that they should be allowed to attend the funeral, he insisted they should not influence any aspect of the burial process.

“I direct that none of my maternal family members shall have any say or control over my body, burial, and funeral. They can only attend the funeral,” the will stated.

The celebrated inventor also rejected any form of state-sponsored burial, stating that he did not wish to receive official funeral honours from the government.

The will added, “I direct that I shall not be given or accorded any state burial or state funeral.”

The will further names his son, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, popularly known as Israel Kwadwo Safo, as the new head of the paternal family established by the late Kristo Asafo founder. Apostle Kwadwo Safo directed all his children to recognise, respect and obey him as the family’s leader while urging the appointed successor to treat every member of the family with equal care and responsibility.

“I direct that all my children shall henceforth consider my son, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, aka Israel Kwadwo Safo, as their father and the head of the paternal family that I have established in my lifetime. They shall give him due honour, obedience, and love as their leader, father, and head, and Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, aka Israel Kwadwo Safo, shall also consider them as his own family members,” the will stated.

Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka died on September 11, 2025, after decades of pioneering innovations in automobile manufacturing, engineering and technology through the Kantanka Group, while also leading the Kristo Asafo Mission. He is widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most influential inventors and religious figures, earning admiration for promoting local industrialisation and self-reliance.

His funeral has been scheduled as a three-day event beginning on July 30, 2026, with his burial at Gomoa Mpota in the Central Region. A national memorial ceremony will follow on July 31 at Independence Square in Accra, where government officials, traditional authorities, members of the Kristo Asafo Mission, captains of industry and admirers are expected to pay their final respects. The funeral rites will conclude on August 1 with a thanksgiving service at Jackson Park in Kumasi.

Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang