Table of Contents
Early Life and Background
Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka was born on 26 August 1948 in Bekwai, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. His parents were Opanin Yaw Safo, a farmer, and Madam Akosua Amoanimaa, a petty trader.
From a young age, Safo showed curiosity and passion for science and technology, even amid modest beginnings.
During his youth, he attended basic schooling in Bom near Bekwai. He later pursued technical studies at the Ghana Technical Works Institute in Kumasi, where he acquired engineering training and developed skills in welding and metalwork. These early years laid the foundation for his later ventures in manufacturing and invention.
Founding Spiritual Life: Kristo Asafo Mission
His spiritual calling emerged alongside his technical pursuits. In 1969, he founded the Kristo Asafo Mission, initially as a prayer group. Over time it expanded into a church with a broader mandate—to combine spiritual work with industrial, technological, and social development initiatives.
As the founder and head of Kristo Asafo, he preached widely, combining evangelism with service, community support, and moral guidance. The church became known not only for spiritual services, but for promoting the idea that faith could coexist with innovation and local development.
Entrepreneurial Ventures & Technological Innovation
One of Apostle Safo’s most well-known endeavors was founding Kantanka Automobile in 1994. Under his leadership, Kantanka sought to design, assemble, and market vehicles suited for Ghanaian and African road and climate conditions. His work in automobile manufacturing earned him recognition for trying to reduce dependence on imported vehicles, pushing local production, and promoting engineering skills in Ghana.
Beyond automobiles, Apostle Safo invested in several companies and sectors. His industrial empire included manufacturing, technology development, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. He believed in local solutions to local problems—creating gadgets, devices and innovations tailored to Ghanaian needs. He also founded a herbal medicine research center, signaling his interest in both traditional health methods and scientific innovation.
Additionally, he founded educational institutions, including the Apostle Safo School of Arts and Sciences (ASSAS), aiming to provide both academic and technical skills training to Ghanaian youth. His company network included other businesses such as Great KOSA Company Limited, among others.
Contributions to Philanthropy and Community Service
Philanthropy was a core part of Apostle Safo’s mission. He was deeply involved in charitable works—supporting orphans, helping with social welfare, contributing to hospitals, institutions for the needy, and offering educational support.
His beliefs often emphasized that service to humanity was service to God. He once organized relief or donation programs for returnees, institutions caring for the disadvantaged, and those impacted by disasters. His church also carried out philanthropic projects, providing resources to poor communities, schools, and health facilities.
Legacy & Later Life
Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka came to be known as the “African Star” in recognition of his blend of faith, invention, industrial ambition and local entrepreneurship. Many admired him for his efforts to bridge faith and scientific innovation, promoting Ghanaian-made technology, and encouraging local manufacturing.
In his later years, he continued to lead the institutions he had founded—both religious and industrial. His innovations included local vehicle models, inventions of devices and gadgets, and pushes for local capacity building.
Also Read: “Kantanka” Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Passes Away
He passed away on 11 September 2025, at the age of 77. His death triggered national mourning, with tributes recognizing him as a pioneer—one who served his country through faith, technical innovation, industry, and social welfare.
What Made Him Unique
- Faith + Innovation: Few leaders combined spiritual leadership with serious engineering, automobile manufacturing, and local technological innovation.
- Locally Focused Industrialization: Safo’s emphasis was on making things in Ghana—for Ghana and Africa—rather than relying wholly on imports.
- Education and Youth Empowerment: Through schools and training programs, he invested in young people’s skills and technical education.
- Philanthropy and Community: Service to the less privileged was a recurring theme in his life’s work.
Lessons from His Life
Apostle Safo’s life teaches several key lessons:
- Visionary Thinking: Having a vision toward local production in countries often dependent on foreign goods can be transformative.
- Resilience: Starting from modest means and building institutions over decades requires perseverance.
- Moral Purpose: Integrating one’s beliefs and values with practical contributions to society deepens impact.
- Legacy Building: Contributions to business, technology, education, faith, and welfare create a multi-dimensional legacy that endures beyond one’s lifetime.
Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka will be remembered as one of Ghana’s most iconic innovators, business leaders, spiritual figures, and philanthropists. His life’s work—founding Kantanka Group, Kristo Asafo Mission, educational institutions, and promoting Ghanaian-made technology—cements his place in Ghana’s modern history.
