Private legal practitioner Kwame Akufo has clarified that the will of the late Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka does not, on its own, confer leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission on any individual.
This comes after the reading of the late founder’s will at the Accra High Court, which has sparked fresh debate over the succession of both the Kantanka Empire and the church.
Speaking to the media after the reading, Mr Akufo argued that the will should not be interpreted as naming a leader of the church.
“The will does not confer a leadership position on anybody; it speaks to a pool of people, but there’s a point to be made there,” he said.
He explained that the document was drafted before amendments were made to the church’s constitution, making it necessary to consider subsequent changes.
“This will was dated and signed before the amendment of the Constitution,” he noted.
According to him, at the time the will was written, Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena held a special place in the late founder’s plans.
“At the time that the will was written, Akofena was clearly a man who sat in the bowels of the man’s heart,” he said.
Mr Akufo said Akofena was later formally designated to exercise authority on the founder’s behalf, but that arrangement changed following constitutional reforms.
“It was the same gentleman who initiated a repeal of that constitutional provision, and Akofena was removed as the designated leader,” he explained.
He argued that the constitutional position at the time of the founder’s death was different from the situation when the will was signed.
“So by the time his father was dying, Akofena was not the designated leader of the church,” he said.
Mr Akufo also criticised public interpretations of the succession process, suggesting that some commentary has overlooked key constitutional developments.
“It is unfortunate that people do not have the accurate information,” he added.
The clarification comes amid ongoing tensions within the Kristo Asafo Mission over leadership succession following the passing of its founder.
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