Ghana is in mourning following the peaceful passing of Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, also known as “Kantanka, the African Star.” His death on Thursday, September 11, 2025, was confirmed by his family and the Kristo Asafo Church, bringing to a close the life of one of the country’s most influential inventors, industrialists, and spiritual leaders.
Born in August 1948, Safo’s legacy spans multiple fields: religion, indigenous technology, automotive manufacturing, agriculture, and philanthropy. He founded the Kantanka brand of automobiles, one of the few locally created vehicle manufacturers in Ghana, alongside a conglomerate of businesses and a religious mission.
In the official statement, signed by his daughter, Sarah Adwoa Safo, former Member of Parliament, the family described him as a “beloved man of God, the greatest technological icon, philanthropist, agriculturalist, and industrialist.” He was lauded as “a true genius, a beacon of hope for many, and a father to the fatherless.”
Although he passed away at the age of 77, the magnitude of his contributions is evident in the enterprises he built, most notably Kantanka Automobile and the Kristo Asafo Mission, which has served as both a religious body and an industrial organization. His innovations, though often met with both admiration and skepticism, demonstrated what local ingenuity could achieve when combined with faith and persistence.
As funeral arrangements are yet to be determined, the family has requested privacy while public tributes and messages of condolence pour in. For many Ghanaians, Safo’s passing marks the end of an era; for others, it’s a moment to reflect on his bold vision of self-reliance, indigenous technology, and faith in Ghana’s creative potential.
