On Thursday, 11 September 2025, Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka—affectionately known across Ghana and beyond as “Kantanka, the African Star”—passed away peacefully at the age of 77, the Safo family and the Kristo Asafo Church announced in a joint statement released on Sunday, 14 September 2025, and signed by his daughter, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, formerly MP for Dome-Kwabenya and Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection .
The Official Announcement and Family Tribute
The statement, bearing deep sorrow, described him as “Ghana’s beloved man of God, the greatest technological icon, philanthropist, agriculturalist and industrialist”, and emphasised that the death marked the loss of a “true trailblazer” and “beacon of hope for many”, even calling him “a father to the fatherless” . Quoting Romans 14:8, the document reflected on the Christian belief that “For if we live, we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord” .
Early Life and Formation
Born on 26 August 1948 in Bekwai, within Ghana’s Ashanti Region , Kwadwo Safo displayed a passion for science and innovation from a young age. After completing his basic education, he enrolled at the Ghana Technical Works Institute in Kumasi, where he studied engineering and apprenticed as a welder. He later worked for firms including the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), experiences that informed his future in engineering and craftsmanship .
Founding of Kristo Asafo Mission
In 1969, he established what started as a prayer group, later evolving in 1971 into the Kristo Asafo Mission, an African-initiated church that blended Christian spirituality with technological and industrial training. Over the years the Mission expanded into manufacturing electronics, agricultural tools, and later, automobiles .
Building Kantanka: From Vision to Vehicle
His industrial breakthrough came in 1994, when he founded Kantanka Automobile, dedicated to designing and producing vehicles suited to African terrain and climatic conditions. By 1998, the company began manufacturing models like the Omama SUV and the Onantefo pickup truck, often using locally sourced components. In 2012, an assembly plant was established in Accra in collaboration with Chongqing Big Science and Technology, enabling production of vehicles from CKD (completely knocked down) kits assembled in Ghana and later exported to countries such as Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire .
Over the decades, Apostles Safo’s efforts came to symbolize local ingenuity and self-reliance. Ghana itself began to think of manufactured goods and automotive engineering as homegrown possibilities. His company claimed to use over 75% Ghanaian-made components, including engine blocks crafted domestically—an extraordinary achievement in the context of West African industry at the time .
Spiritual Leadership and Legacy
Alongside his industrial initiatives, Apostle Safo remained a devoted spiritual leader. Under his guidance, Kristo Asafo Mission garnered thousands of followers and trained many in vocational skills: engineering, electronics, farming, and artisanal crafts. Within Ghana’s religious landscape, the Mission stood out as a body that integrated faith and practical skill development. The founder’s vision extended beyond spiritual salvation to economic empowerment, particularly for young Africans, promoting the belief that technology and innovation could be pathways to national development .
His spiritual teachings embraced African cultural identity and encouraged self-belief: a message that resonated with many and contributed to his widespread influence. Financial aid, educational support, and agricultural schemes under his philanthropic umbrella touched countless lives across Ghana .
Recognition as a “True Genius” and “Star of Africa”
In the official death statement, Sarah Adwoa Safo described her father as “a true genius, the beacon of hope for many, a father to the fatherless”, and affirmed that Ghana had lost “a gallant son and a true legend” .
International observers and local commentators often referred to him as the “Star of Africa”, a central figure of Ghanaian industry, faith, and African technological self-sufficiency. News outlets highlighted how his innovations challenged stereotypes and elevated the image of Ghanaian inventiveness on the world stage .
Impact, Employment and Nation-building
Kantanka’s operations created employment for skilled and unskilled Ghanaians, fostered knowledge transfer, and spurred growth in sectors such as auto-mechanics, electronics, and agriculture. Although his vehicles did not rival global auto giants in scale, his work inspired a generation of young Africans to believe in local solutions for African problems .
Through philanthropic programmes—including educational sponsorships, medical outreaches, and youth empowerment initiatives—he extended his impact into communities beyond Accra. These efforts cemented his reputation as an industrialist with a deeply social conscience.
National Mourners and Tributes
Following the announcement, Ghana observed a period of national mourning. Public figures, including Ghana’s Vice-President Mahmudu Bawumia, expressed condolences, calling Apostle Safo a pioneering innovator whose contributions spanned beyond manufacturing to moral and societal upliftment . Social media flooded with messages recalling his inventions, spiritual guidance, and messages of hope and self-reliance.
Family Request for Privacy and Next Steps
The family—especially through Sarah Adwoa Safo’s statement—pleaded with the public and media to respect their privacy during this time of grief. Burial and funeral arrangements were said to be forthcoming and would be communicated in due course .
Daughter and Legacy Keeper: Sarah Adwoa Safo
Sarah Adwoa Safo, born on 28 December 1981 in Accra, is both a lawyer and a politician. Educated at the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law, she attained an LLM in the United States and a postgraduate diploma in public procurement law from the University of Nottingham. She served as MP for Dome-Kwabenya from 2013 until 2025 and held ministerial roles, including Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection until her dismissal in 2022 .
Her public role added gravitas to the announcement of her father’s death. As a lawyer, politician and public figure, her portrayal of her father as both spiritual guide and inventor gave official voice to the multifaceted legacy he leaves behind.
Apostle Safo’s Broader Influence
Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka’s influence extended across multiple spheres:
- Religion: As founder of Kristo Asafo, he built a mission that thrived on faith combined with practical skills.
- Technology & Industry: From self-taught engineer to auto innovator, he broke barriers in Ghana’s nascent manufacturing sector.
- Philanthropy: His community initiatives supported education, health, youth development, and agricultural innovation.
- National Pride & Cultural Identity: As “African Star”, he symbolised the possibility of homegrown excellence and inspired African millennials to embrace indigenous solutions.
Final Reflection
Apostle Safo’s death at 77 closes a remarkable life chapter spanning from humble beginnings in Bekwai to national icon. His journey exemplified resilience, holiness, creativity and patriotism. Ghana loses not only a religious leader but also a bold inventor whose companies spoke to possibility and who challenged African dependency on imports with home-grown manufacturing.
Though funeral details remain pending, the world already knows that Ghana’s faith, industrial and technological landscapes have been shaped—irrevocably—by Kwadwo Safo Kantanka’s life and vision.
In the family’s words: “Ghana has indeed lost a gallant son and a true legend”—a tribute fitting a man whose life’s story bridged prayer and physics; scripture and engineering; a pastor and a pioneer.
