Lawyer Kwame Akuffo, counsel for six children of the late Apostle Emeritus Professor Ing. Kwadwo Safo, has dismissed claims that the reading of the founder’s will automatically makes Israel Nana Kwadwo Safo, popularly known as Akofena, the leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, a day after the reading of the late founder’s will, Mr. Akuffo maintained that the document contains no provision appointing, confirming or anointing any individual as head of the church.
According to him, suggestions that the will settles the succession of the Kristo Asafo Mission are legally and constitutionally flawed.
“The will does not establish the leadership of the church. Leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission is governed by the church’s constitution, not by the testamentary wishes of the deceased,” he told journalists.
Representing six of the late Apostle’s children, including former Member of Parliament Sarah Adwoa Safo, Mr. Akuffo said his clients have instructed him to commence legal proceedings to obtain a definitive judicial interpretation of the church’s constitutional provisions on succession.
He argued that while the will governs the distribution of the late founder’s estate, it neither overrides nor amends the constitutional framework that regulates the leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission.
Mr. Akuffo further contended that although Akofena had previously been identified by his father as a potential successor, subsequent developments altered that position. He alleged that the late Apostle later relieved Akofena of certain leadership responsibilities within the Kristo Asafo organisation and subsequently amended the church’s constitutional succession arrangements.
According to him, those constitutional amendments—not the contents of the will—should determine who is qualified to lead the church.
He questioned the legal basis for relying solely on the will to claim leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission, where the church’s constitution provides otherwise.
Mr. Akuffo also argued that any failure by the will to reflect subsequent constitutional changes does not invalidate or supersede the church’s constitution, insisting that the constitution remains the supreme governing instrument on matters relating to church leadership.
As part of the legal process, he disclosed that an interlocutory injunction has been filed against Akofena pending the court’s determination of the succession dispute.
According to Mr. Akuffo, there is currently no duly installed leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission, and any claim to the position should await the outcome of the legal and constitutional processes.
The succession dispute has drawn significant public attention following the death of Apostle Emeritus Professor Ing. Kwadwo Safo, with differing interpretations emerging over the legal effect of his will and the church’s constitution.
The legal action initiated by the six siblings is expected to seek judicial clarification on whether the appointment of the next leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission is governed by the church’s constitution or by the founder’s will.
