Dr. Philip Siaw Kissi, secretary to the family of the late renowned inventor and founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission, Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo, popularly known as Kantanka, has questioned the decision by a child of the deceased to publicly announce funeral arrangements, insisting that under tradition, such responsibilities belong to the family.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Dr. Kissi said the family has already outlined its own plans regarding the burial arrangements and stressed that customary procedures must be respected.
“Our father was very instrumental in our lives. God willing, on June 25, we will perform his doteyie, which means the day he will be buried, after which the family will later come out to announce to the public when the final funeral rites will be held,” he said.
Dr. Kissi questioned whether it was appropriate for a child to independently announce funeral arrangements without the family’s approval.
“Is it even right for a child to announce the death of his father or announce funeral arrangements? What I know is that the family has the right to make such announcements,” he stated.
“If your child comes out to make such an announcement, then it cannot be right.”
According to him, traditional customs give authority over funeral arrangements to the extended family and not directly to children of the deceased.
“Apostle Kwadwo Safo comes from a family and, as a family, it is rather our right to come out and announce the funeral rites to the public,” he said.
“He belonged to a family before he had children, so how can a child announce that? It is the family’s right to set the date and conduct funeral rites when someone dies in the family.”
Dr. Kissi further explained that this custom is reflected even in funeral notices and obituary posters.
“That is why when you look at obituary posters, you usually see the family first before the children. A child cannot be an Abusuapanyin,” he said.
He also indicated that the family had exercised restraint to avoid creating unnecessary public controversy.
“There is a lot to say, but because of the love we have for the man, we as a family are trying hard not to tarnish our image in public,” he added.
Explaining customary procedures, he said families are traditionally informed officially through designated representatives.
“In our customs, when someone dies in a family, even if the person is your father, some family members are delegated to announce the death. And truly, they sent some people to inform us as a family, so why then go ahead and have a child take matters into his or her own hands?” he questioned.
His comments come after funeral arrangements were announced by Sarah Adwoa Safo together with the Kristo Asafo Mission and the Funeral Planning Committee, indicating that Apostle Kwadwo Safo would be buried on July 30, 2026, at Gomoa Mpota.
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