Lawyer Kwame Akuffo, counsel for six children of the late Apostle Emeritus Professor Ing. Kwadwo Safo, has firmly rejected claims that the reading of the founder’s will automatically establishes Israel Nana Kwadwo Safo, popularly known as Akofena, as 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 argued that the will contains no provision appointing, confirming, or anointing any individual as the head of the church.
According to him, assertions that the will settles the succession of the Kristo Asafo Mission are legally and constitutionally misplaced.
“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 disclosed that his clients have instructed him to initiate legal proceedings to obtain a definitive interpretation of the church’s constitutional provisions governing succession.
He maintained that while the will deals with the distribution of the late founder’s estate, it does not override or amend the constitutional framework regulating the leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission.
Mr. Akuffo further argued that although Akofena had previously been identified by his father as a potential successor, subsequent developments allegedly changed that position.
He claimed that the late Apostle later removed Akofena from leadership responsibilities within parts of the Kristo Asafo organisation and amended the church’s constitutional succession arrangements.
According to the lawyer, those constitutional amendments, rather than the contents of the will, should determine who is qualified to lead the church.
He questioned the legal basis upon which anyone could rely solely on the will to claim the leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission if the church’s constitution provides otherwise.
Mr. Akuffo also contended that any omission in the will to reflect later 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 determination of the succession dispute.
According to Mr. Akuffo, there is currently no properly 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 of the Kristo Asafo Mission has attracted 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 constitutional provisions.
The legal proceedings initiated by the six siblings are expected to seek judicial clarity on whether the church’s constitution or the founder’s will governs the appointment of the next leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission
