Former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, is receiving intensive medical treatment at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra after s
Former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, is receiving intensive medical treatment at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra after sustaining gunshot injuries in a dramatic incident linked to an escalating leadership dispute within the Kristo Asafo Mission and the business empire founded by the late Apostle Emeritus Prof. Ing. Kwadwo Safo.
The incident, which has shocked the nation and intensified tensions within one of the most prominent religious and industrial families, occurred on June 21, 2026, at the residence of her younger brother, Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena, at Kwabenya in Accra.
According to Dr. Emmanuel Y. Boakye, Special Assistant to the former legislator and spokesperson for the Kwadwo Safo family, Adwoa Safo suffered gunshot wounds during the confrontation and was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital, where she has since undergone two surgical procedures.
Speaking on Akoma FM Dr. Boakye disclosed that although Adwoa Safo is responding positively to treatment, medical specialists are considering flying her abroad for further treatment to prevent permanent damage to parts of her face.
“Adwoa has undergone two surgeries and is expected to be flown abroad for further treatment to prevent further damage to her face,” Dr. Boakye stated.
Medical sources indicate that doctors continue to monitor her condition closely as she recovers from the injuries sustained during the incident.
Family Alleges Assassination Plot
Beyond the medical emergency, the shooting has opened a new chapter in the increasingly bitter succession battle that has engulfed the Kristo Asafo Mission since the death of its founder, Apostle Kwadwo Safo, on September 11, 2025.
The late inventor, industrialist and religious leader built one of the most influential religious movements and a vast network of businesses under the Kantanka brand, making the question of succession one of enormous significance.
According to Dr. Boakye, the attack on Adwoa Safo was not accidental but part of a deliberate attempt to eliminate her from the succession contest.
Speaking on Channel One TV, he described the shooting as an assassination attempt allegedly orchestrated by individuals seeking control of the church and its business interests.
“I’m not a lawyer, but I can tell you it was an attempt to kill an individual. Personally, the family was shocked. The siblings were shocked. Everybody was shocked. How can you, in your right senses, point a gun at your own sister?” he questioned.
He further alleged that some of the individuals present during the incident were linked to private security operations and had assembled at the location in the early hours of the day for what he described as a coordinated mission.
“About twenty people came there that dawn. The operation was to eliminate Adwoa Safo,” he claimed.
The allegations have heightened public concern, although police investigations are still ongoing and no official findings have yet been released to support or dismiss the claims.
The Succession Dispute
The controversy traces its roots to a long-running disagreement over who should succeed the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo as leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission.
According to a statement issued by the Kwadwo Safo family, Apostle Kwadwo Safo had originally designated his son, Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena, as successor in 2017 and entrusted him with oversight responsibilities for both the church and the various businesses established under the Kristo Asafo umbrella.
However, family members claim that concerns later emerged over the management of the church and business operations under Akofena’s stewardship.
The family alleges that several enterprises experienced significant decline during that period, while certain foundational principles of the church were altered.
As a result, they contend that Apostle Kwadwo Safo revoked the earlier arrangement in 2024, amended the church’s succession framework and appointed Adwoa Safo as Head of the Family, while excluding Akofena from future leadership consideration.
Following the founder’s death, Adwoa Safo has since served as the principal representative of the family and has been overseeing preparations toward a final succession process.
Church Lawyer Offers Different Version
However, lawyers representing the Kristo Asafo Mission have strongly disputed suggestions that an installation ceremony had been planned in defiance of the founder’s wishes.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, lawyer Nana Kofi Safo Kantanka clarified that the gathering which preceded the shooting incident was merely intended to introduce Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena as the preferred candidate selected by the church’s Council of Elders.
According to him, no installation, coronation or inauguration was scheduled.
He explained that under the church’s constitution, the Chairman of the Council of Elders temporarily assumes administrative responsibilities after the death of a founder, while a formal succession process is conducted within three months.
The lawyer said consultations involving all eligible candidates were undertaken and that the Council of Elders eventually settled on Akofena as its preferred nominee.
“The purpose of the gathering was simply to introduce Akofena. It was not an inauguration, installation or coronation. The formal processes were expected to take place after the funeral rites of the late founder,” he explained.
He further maintained that both male and female children of the late Apostle had been consulted during the process and that no objections were raised during those engagements.
Reports of Heavy Gunfire
Meanwhile, details emerging from the incident suggest that the confrontation quickly descended into violence.
According to accounts from Adwoa Safo’s aides and family representatives, approximately 45 rounds of ammunition were allegedly discharged during the encounter, with some bullets reportedly directed at the vehicle in which the former MP arrived.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show the aftermath of the incident and the emergency evacuation of Adwoa Safo to a medical facility.
Authorities have not independently confirmed the exact number of rounds fired, but the incident has triggered widespread public concern and renewed scrutiny of the security arrangements surrounding the Kristo Asafo succession dispute.
Police Investigations Continue
The Ghana Police Service has launched investigations into the shooting and is expected to determine the exact circumstances that led to the violence.
While both sides continue to advance conflicting narratives regarding the events of June 21, investigators are expected to rely on witness statements, forensic evidence and available video recordings to establish what transpired.
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