Accra: Lawyer Kwame Akuffo, representing former Member of Parliament Sarah Adwoa Safo, has revealed significant developments regarding the leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission. According to Ghana Web, Akuffo stated that Kwadwo Safo Akofena was no longer the designated leader of the church before the passing of its founder, Apostle Kwadwo Safo. Akofena’s removal from the ‘Crown Prince’ position was due to constitutional amendments initiated by his father prior to his death.
Addressing the media, Akuffo emphasized that although Akofena was initially named as the church’s successor in an earlier will, later constitutional changes legally removed him from that role. He clarified that the reading of the will did not conclusively resolve the leadership succession within the church. “By the time his father was dying, Akofena was not the designated leader of the church,” Akuffo asserted, pointing out that the constitutional process of the Kristo Asafo Mission is not determined by the will, which has yet to be admitted to probate.
Akuffo highlighted that there is no specific provision within the will appointing an individual as the church’s leader. He referenced Clause 27, which mentions a ‘male biological child’ as an heir capable of accepting leadership, but does not unequivocally name a successor. This, he argued, leaves the leadership question open to interpretation, as it suggests a pool of eligible candidates rather than a definite successor.
The dispute over succession intensified following the public reading of Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s will in July 2026. Claims arose suggesting the document named Akofena as both heir and successor, a notion Akuffo dismissed, explaining that the will was created prior to the constitutional changes that altered the church’s succession framework.
Akuffo criticised those disseminating inaccurate information, which he believed led to misconceptions about the leadership transition. He questioned the automatic assumption of leadership by someone previously removed as a designated successor, likening it to traditional leadership scenarios that require more than just a written will.
The lawyer reiterated his responsibility to dispel misinformation and ensure the public is accurately informed, emphasizing that his statements were made under the instruction of his client, to offer clarity on the matter.