Kristo Asafo Mission dragged to court over installation of Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena as leader

Two senior members of Kristo Asafo Mission have taken the church to the High Court in Accra over moves to install Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena as its next leader.

The case concerns the succession process following the death of the church’s founder, Apostle Emeritus Dr Ing. Kwadwo Safo, in September 2025.

Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena, officially known as Israel Kwadwo Safo, is the son of the late founder.

The suit was filed by Kweku Agyenim Boateng, a former Deputy General Secretary of Kristo Asafo Mission, and Seth Appiah Richard Brown.

They are suing Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana, Israel Kwadwo Safo, Festus Owusu Badu, Dr Kwadwo Addo Oduro and Robert Ntiful.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to stop any attempt to appoint, install, present or recognise Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena as leader of the church unless the process complies with the mission’s constitution.

According to them, the dispute is rooted in the church’s 2017 Constitution and amendments made in 2024.

They claim that although Israel Kwadwo Safo had earlier been identified as a possible successor by the late founder, the 2024 constitutional amendment changed the line of succession.

The plaintiffs argue that the amendment represented the final and deliberate wishes of Apostle Kwadwo Safo on the future leadership of the church.

They therefore contend that any installation outside the amended constitutional structure would be unlawful, null and void.

In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs allege that some elders of the church were making preparations to publicly present Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena as the leader of Kristo Asafo Mission.

They say such a move would undermine the church’s constitutional governance and worsen tensions among members.

They are seeking a declaration that the 2017 Constitution of Kristo Asafo Mission and its 2024 amended version remain the supreme governing instruments of the church.

They also want the court to declare that any succession process must strictly follow those constitutional provisions.

The plaintiffs are further asking for an order restraining Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena from holding himself out as leader of the church.

They are also seeking a perpetual injunction against the church, its Council of Elders and other officials from appointing or recognising him as leader until the court determines the matter.

The suit is accompanied by a penal notice warning the defendants and anyone acting on their behalf not to proceed with the installation while the case is pending.

The notice cautions that anyone who disregards the court process could be cited for contempt and punished according to law.

The plaintiffs say the dispute has created uncertainty and anxiety within the church and threatens its unity and stability.

The High Court is expected to determine whether the planned succession complies with the church’s governing constitution and the intentions attributed to the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo.