Former Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Samuel Ayeh-Paye, has called on the Ghanaian authorities to urgently review the operations of the private s
Former Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Samuel Ayeh-Paye, has called on the Ghanaian authorities to urgently review the operations of the private security apparatus attached to the Kristo Asafo Mission and disarm its personnel, following the recent shooting incident involving former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo.
His comments come in the wake of a major controversy surrounding the June 21 shooting at the Kwabenya residence of the late Apostle Emeritus Dr. Ing. Kwadwo Safo, founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission and the Kantanka Group of Companies, where Adwoa Safo sustained a gunshot injury during a disputed installation ceremony involving her brother, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena.
The incident has triggerednational debate about the activities of armed private security personnel attached to the church and whether their operations have been adequately regulated over the years.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Ayeh-Paye, who says he has lived in Taifa for more than three decades, argued that the state has tolerated what he described as an unusual security arrangement around the Kristo Asafo Mission for far too long.
According to him, concerns about the activities of the church’s security personnel are not new and have been raised by residents in the area on several occasions.
“The private security status of Kristo Asafo Mission or movement must be critically looked at,” he stated.
The former legislator questioned why individuals operating as private security guards appeared to possess firearms and operate in a manner that, in his view, closely resembles military or state security formations.
He noted that under Ghanaian law, private security personnel are generally subject to strict regulations regarding the possession and use of firearms, making recent developments particularly concerning.
According to Ayeh-Paye, the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo was routinely accompanied by heavily armed security personnel who were often dressed in military-style attire and operated motorcycle escorts whenever he travelled.
He claimed that residents in the area frequently witnessed these security details escorting the church founder in a manner similar to official state security convoys.
“These security men fired warning shots anytime the late founder of the mission, Apostle Safo, was leaving home or returning from town. We used to see them on motorcycles leading and following him like he was the President of the State,” he alleged.
The former MP further claimed that despite complaints from some residents over the years, security agencies did not take sufficient action to address the situation.
According to him, the latest shooting incident demonstrates why authorities should have intervened much earlier to review the activities of the private security outfit.
His remarks follow a statement issued by the Ghana Police Service confirming the arrest of six private security guards in connection with the Kwabenya shooting incident.
Police investigations revealed that officers responding to a distress call at the residence where a ceremony was being held recovered five pump-action guns, a Taurus pistol loaded with ammunition, additional magazines and communication equipment.
Authorities further stated that preliminary investigations indicate armed security personnel at the residence allegedly discharged firearms during the confrontation, resulting in injuries to Adwoa Safo and damage to her vehicle.
The police have since transferred the suspects and exhibits to Police Headquarters while investigations continue.
The shooting itself occurred against the backdrop of an increasingly bitter leadership dispute within the Kristo Asafo Mission following the death of Apostle Kwadwo Safo in September 2025.
The succession process has become the subject of legal battles, with some senior members of the church challenging attempts to install Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena as leader of the mission.
Court proceedings seeking to halt the installation process were already underway before the incident occurred.
The succession controversy has exposed deep divisions within both the church and the Safo family, drawing national attention to issues of governance, leadership and succession within one of the most influential religious movements.
Against this background, Ayeh-Paye believes the state must now take decisive action to prevent future violence.
“Now that the man himself is no more, controlling them will be extremely difficult,” he cautioned.
He therefore renewed his call for authorities to immediately disarm the security personnel attached to the mission before matters deteriorate further.
“I therefore suggest once again the disarming of these bodyguards before things get out of hand,” he stated.
His intervention adds to growing public concerns over the proliferation of armed private security operations and the need for stronger regulatory oversight.
Security analysts note that while private institutions and individuals are permitted to engage security services, the use of firearms remains heavily regulated and subject to state authorization.
The ongoing police investigation is therefore expected to examine not only the circumstances surrounding the shooting itself but also broader questions regarding the possession and use of firearms by individuals providing security at the church premises.
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