The family of the late founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission, Apostle Emeritus Prof. Ing. Kwadwo Safo, has formally dissociated itself from any claim by Israel Nana Kwadwo Safo, popularly known as Akofena, to the leadership of the church and the Kwadwo Safo family, citing what it described as the collapse of businesses and deviation from the founder’s principles under his stewardship.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the family said it “does not recognize any purported installation or assumption of leadership by Mr. Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena that is inconsistent with the directives of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo.”
According to the family, the late founder had in 2017 designated Israel Safo as his successor and entrusted him with leadership of the church and oversight responsibilities for the various businesses established under the Kristo Asafo conglomerate.
However, the statement said the arrangement was later reconsidered following concerns over the state of the enterprises and the direction of the church.
“During his tenure, the family observed a significant decline in the fortunes of several businesses within the Kristo Asafo conglomerate, leading to the collapse or near collapse of a number of those enterprises,” the statement said.
It further alleged that “several foundational principles of the church were altered during this period, while Mr. Israel Safo increasingly exercised authority without due regard for the Founder and Leader of the Mission.”
The family said the developments caused considerable concern to Apostle Kwadwo Safo, prompting him in 2024 to revoke the mandate previously granted to his son and remove the provisions that had conferred that authority.
According to the statement, the late inventor and religious leader subsequently appointed his daughter and former Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, as head of the family and established a new succession roadmap for the future leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission.
“Accordingly, the succession framework was amended and explicitly excluded Mr. Israel Safo from consideration for the leadership position,” the statement added.
The family maintained that following the death of Apostle Kwadwo Safo on September 11, 2025, Adwoa Safo had, with the support of her siblings, continued to discharge the responsibilities entrusted to her by their late father and had served as the principal representative of the family.
The statement also touched on Saturday’s shooting incident involving Adwoa Safo, revealing that she is in a stable condition and responding positively to medical treatment.
It alleged that the incident occurred when the former lawmaker sought to serve court documents on her younger brother after some church members obtained an injunction against what the family described as a planned private installation ceremony intended to declare Israel Safo as leader of the mission.
“During the encounter, Mr. Israel Safo discharged a firearm multiple times in her direction and also instructed associates at the scene to open fire on her vehicle,” the family alleged, adding that the matter had been reported to law enforcement authorities.
The family further cautioned the public against engaging in transactions or dealings purportedly undertaken by Israel Safo on behalf of the Kristo Asafo Mission or the Kwadwo Safo family, stating that anyone who does so “does so at his or her own risk.”
