Former MP Sarah Adwoa Safo Wounded in Kwabenya Shooting Amid Kristo Asafo Mission Succession Dispute

Former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, is recovering at the Bank Hospital in Accra after being wounded in a violent shooting incident on June 21, 2026. The incident occurred at the Kwabenya residence of her brother, Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena, where the former lawmaker sustained injuries from bullet pellets and glass fragments lodged in her head and face. Medical assessments revealed that some fragments were located dangerously close to her brain, necessitating a transfer from the 37 Military Hospital for specialist surgery. The violence is the latest escalation in a bitter leadership struggle within the Kristo Asafo Mission following the death of its founder, Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, in September 2025.

In the aftermath of the confrontation, the Ghana Police Service arrested nine individuals, including Israel Kwadwo Safo Akofena, who surrendered to authorities on June 22. Searches conducted at Akofena’s residence and vehicle uncovered a significant cache of ammunition and firearms, including two Glock pistols. The Adenta Circuit Court has since admitted the nine accused to bail set at GH¢500,000 each—totaling GH¢4.5 million—with two sureties. They face multiple charges, including the use of offensive weapons, causing unlawful damage, and involvement in prohibited vigilante activity. Concurrently, the Ministry of the Interior has suspended the operating license of Kantanka Security Services Limited, citing the use of unauthorized uniforms and unregistered firearms during the incident.

The conflict centers on a disputed succession plan for the Kristo Asafo Mission. Family representatives assert that the late Apostle had revoked Israel Akofena’s leadership mandate in 2024, subsequently appointing Sarah Adwoa Safo as the head of the family and church. On the day of the shooting, Safo was allegedly attempting to serve a court injunction to block her brother's installation. While Safo has firmly denied being armed, asserting she visited the residence alone as a family member, the opposing faction claimed she initiated the violence by ramming her vehicle into the property gates. Family spokesperson Dr. Emmanuel Boakye has categorized the event as a coordinated assassination plot, alleging that 48 bullets were fired at the former MP.

As legal proceedings are adjourned to September 23, 2026, the incident has raised significant concerns regarding the regulation of private security firms and the safety of family members involved in the dispute. Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak emphasized that the revocation of the Kantanka Security license will remain in place pending a full investigation into the company's conduct. Meanwhile, Adwoa Safo’s family is considering flying her abroad for further specialized medical treatment. The ongoing police investigation and court case will likely prove pivotal in determining the future leadership and stability of the Kristo Asafo Mission and its affiliated business interests.