Private legal practitioner Kwame Akufo has argued that the will of the late Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka does not, by itself, determine the leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission.
His comments follow the reading of the late founder’s will at the Accra High Court, which has sparked claims that Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena was confirmed as the successor to the Kantanka Empire.
Speaking to the media after the proceedings, Mr Akufo maintained that the will should not be interpreted as appointing any individual to lead the church.
“The will does not confer a leadership position on anybody. It speaks to a pool of people, but there’s a point to be made there,” he said.
According to Mr Akufo, the will was drafted and signed before amendments were made to the constitution of the Kristo Asafo Mission, making it necessary to consider the later constitutional changes when determining the church’s leadership.
“This will was dated and signed before the amendment of the Constitution,” he stated.
He explained that when the will was prepared, Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena held a significant place in the late founder’s plans.
“At the time that the will was written, Akofena was clearly a man who sat in the bowels of the man’s heart,” he said.
Mr Akufo noted that Akofena was subsequently designated to exercise authority on behalf of the founder.
“Subsequently, Akofena was designated as an exerciser of the gentleman upon his person,” he stated.
However, he argued that the founder later initiated constitutional reforms that revoked that designation.
“It was the same gentleman who initiated a repeal of that constitutional provision, and Akofena was removed as designated leader,” Mr Akufo said.
He maintained that the constitutional position in force at the time of Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s death differed from the one that existed when the will was executed.
“So by the time his father was dying, Akofena was not the designated leader of the church,” he said.
Mr Akufo also criticised public commentary surrounding the succession process, arguing that some interpretations have overlooked the constitutional changes made before the founder’s death.
“It is unfortunate that people do not have the accurate information,” he added.
