Ghana has lost one of its greatest pioneers of faith, technology, and indigenous innovation. Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission and the Kantanka Group, passed away peacefully on Thursday, 11 September 2025, at the age of 77.
The announcement was made by the Safo family and the Kristo Asafo Church in a statement signed by his daughter, former Dome Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo.
“With profound sorrow and deepest grief, the Safo family and the Kristo Asafo Church announce the peaceful passing of Ghana’s beloved man of God, the greatest technological icon, philanthropist, agriculturalist and industrialist,” the family noted, describing him as “a true genius, the beacon of hope for many, a father to the fatherless.”
Quoting Romans 14:8, the family reflected on his enduring faith: “For if we live, we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord.”
Born on 26 August 1948 in Bom, near Kensere in the Ashanti Region, Apostle Safo rose from humble beginnings to become a national icon.
He founded the Kantanka Group, Ghana’s largest indigenous technology conglomerate, and established Kantanka Automobile in 1994, pioneering the design and manufacturing of locally produced vehicles. His innovations extended into pharmaceuticals, electronics, and industrial machinery.
As leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission, Apostle Safo merged faith with industry, creating a movement that inspired self-reliance and Pan-African innovation. He was widely regarded as a philanthropist who supported education, agriculture, and community development, earning him the title “Kantanka, the African Star.”
The family has appealed for privacy during this period of mourning, adding that funeral and burial arrangements will be communicated in due course.
Apostle Safo’s passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy of resilience, ingenuity, and service to both God and Ghana will endure for generations.
