Essumegya paramount chief rejects claims of role in Apostle Safo Kantanka’s burial, says he was not a Royal
The Paramount Chief of Essumegya, Odeneho Okyere Kusi Ntrama Aduako II, has dismissed claims that he will announce the burial date of the late founder and leader of Kristo Asafo, Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, insisting that he has not held any meeting with the family over the funeral arrangements.
The chief, through the Head of the Aduana Royal Family at Essumegya in the Ashanti region, Pastor Kusi Boateng, explained that the late engineer was not a royal of Essumegya and therefore the traditional authority has no role in determining the date for his final burial.
The clarification follows comments made by an Essumegya native, Kwabena Karikari, during a press conference organised by the Kantanka Royal Family in Accra on Monday.
At the briefing, Karikari told journalists that the burial date for Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, who died in September 2025, would soon be announced by the Essumegya Paramount Chief.
He also urged the public to disregard reports suggesting the renowned inventor would be buried on July 30, 2026.
Addressing a separate press conference on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Pastor Kusi Boateng, speaking on behalf of Odeneho Okyere Kusi Ntrama Aduako II, described the earlier claims as false and misleading.
“The Paramount Chief has not held any meeting with the family of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka regarding his burial arrangements,” he said.
“The assertion that the chief will announce the burial date is completely untrue,” he added.
Pastor Kusi Boateng further explained that under the customs of Essumegya, the Paramount Chief only plays a role in the funeral arrangements of members of the royal family.
“The late Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka was not a royal of Essumegya, and for that reason the Paramount Chief is not involved in setting or announcing his burial date,” he stated.
“The public should therefore disregard any statement suggesting otherwise.”
He urged Ghanaians to rely only on official information from the deceased’s family regarding the funeral arrangements.
“We want to put the records straight to avoid confusion. The Paramount Chief has no mandate in this matter because the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka was not a royal of Essumegya,” Pastor Kusi Boateng emphasized.
“Any announcement on the burial should come from the appropriate family authorities,” he further emphasized.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
