Thousands of mourners from across Ghana yesterday converged at Gomoa in the Central Region to pay their last respects to the late Apostle Kwadwo Sarfo, founder of Kristo Asafo Mission and one of the country’s most celebrated inventors, industrialists and religious leaders.
The massive turnout dispelled widespread speculation that the funeral would not take place, following a legal dispute within the late Apostle’s family over the final funeral arrangements.
Church members, sympathisers and admirers arrived in buses from different parts of the country to honour a man widely credited with promoting indigenous innovation and placing Ghana on the global map through his inventions and industrial ventures.
The atmosphere at the funeral grounds was a mixture of grief and celebration. Clad predominantly in red and black, members of Kristo Asafo Mission sang hymns amid tears and wailing, as they paid tribute to their spiritual leader.
One of the songs repeatedly rendered was “Yɛ Wɔ Nyame Oye” (“We Have a Faithful God”), reflecting the church’s unwavering faith despite the loss.
A major highlight of the day’s activities was the unveiling of a specially constructed mausoleum, where the late Apostle’s mortal remains are expected to be laid to rest.
Security at the funeral grounds was visibly tight, with personnel deployed to maintain law and order and manage the huge crowds that attended the ceremony.
Noticeably absent from yesterday’s events were President John Dramani Mahama, former President John Agyekum Kufuor and former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. However, today’s main funeral service is expected to attract several high-profile personalities from government, business, traditional authorities and the diplomatic community.
The funeral follows days of uncertainty triggered by a legal battle within the Safo family. Israel Kwadwo Safo, the first son of the late Industrialist, secured an interim injunction seeking to restrain his elder sister, Adwoa Safo, and other family members from proceeding with the final funeral rites.
Before the interim injunction was served on the Transition Funeral Home in Accra, where the body had been deposited for preservation, the mortal remains of Apostle Kwadwo Sarfo had been reportedly removed from the facility.
The Chronicle could not independently establish exactly when the body was taken from the funeral home.
Despite the controversy, the large attendance underscored the profound influence Apostle Kwadwo Safo wielded over several decades through his leadership of Kristo Asafo Mission and his contributions to indigenous technology, manufacturing and innovation, which earned him recognition both in Ghana and abroad.
