Lawyer for the Kristo Asafo Mission, Nana Kofi Kantanka, has denied claims that former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Sarfo, was deliberately shot during a tense incident at a residence linked to the Kristo Asafo family in Kwabenya on Sunday June 21.
Speaking in an interview with Joy News, Nana Kofi Kantanka gave his account of the incident, insisting that security personnel only fired warning shots after the former legislator allegedly attempted to force her vehicle through the gates of the premises where a ceremony was being held.
The incident has sparked widespread public attention following reports that Hon. Adwoa Sarfo sustained a gunshot injury near her neck during a confrontation at the residence of her younger brother, Israel Kwadwo Sarfo, popularly known as Nana Kwadwo Sarfo Akofena.
The gathering was reportedly connected to efforts by some members and supporters of the Kristo Asafo Mission to install Nana Kwadwo Sarfo Akofena as successor to the late founder of the movement, Apostle Prof. Emeritus Dr. Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka.
According to Nana Kofi Kantanka, the situation began after the ceremony introducing the newly appointed leader had ended.
“After the ceremony, they heard a very loud bang,” he explained during the interview.
“There are two gates — the northern gate and the southern gate. The bang came again and then they realized it was a car trying to force its way through the gate.”
He alleged that the vehicle carrying Hon. Adwoa Sarfo repeatedly rammed the southern gate before moving to the northern entrance and allegedly repeating the act.
According to him, security personnel at the premises became concerned that the vehicle could endanger people who were still at the venue.
“The security apparatus indicated to her that what she was doing could cause casualties because there were still people in the premises,” he stated.
Nana Kofi Kantanka further claimed that warning shots were subsequently fired to stop the vehicle from entering the compound.
“So they started firing warning shots to prevent her from entering the residence with her car,” he said.
However, he declined to confirm whether the former MP was directly shot during the incident.
“As to whether they shot her or whether she was wounded, that’s not what actually happened on the ground,” he maintained.
When asked why Hon. Adwoa Sarfo was allegedly being prevented from entering the premises, the lawyer denied that she had been barred from attending the event.
“No one prevented her from entering,” he stated. “If she had parked and come down and indicated she wanted to enter, that would have been all.”
He also rejected suggestions that Hon. Adwoa Sarfo was part of the current leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission.
“She’s not part of the leadership of the church,” he said.
According to him, the council of elders had invited all children of the late founder to the ceremony, but none attended.
“The council of elders, as far as I know, wrote to all the children of the founder, but according to them, none of them honoured the invitation,” he added.
Nana Kofi Kantanka clarified that the ceremony did not take place at a church premises but rather at a private residence built by one of the founder’s sons.
Meanwhile, earlier reports surrounding the incident alleged that armed men acting on the instructions of Nana Kwadwo Sarfo Akofena opened fire on the former MP’s vehicle, discharging about 15 rounds of ammunition.
Sources close to Hon. Adwoa Sarfo claimed one of the bullets grazed her near the neck, leading to minor injuries and immediate medical treatment.
However, the Ghana Police Service has since confirmed that investigations are ongoing into the incident.
In a press release issued by the Accra Regional Public Affairs Unit and signed by Superintendent Juliana Obeng, police stated that preliminary investigations indicate that Hon. Adwoa Sarfo sustained a gunshot injury to her left ear while visiting her late father’s residence in Kwabenya on Sunday.
The statement further disclosed that the former MP reported the incident to the Kwabenya Police Command and presented a vehicle with visible gunshot damage.
Police said she has since been issued a medical report form and is currently receiving treatment.
The vehicle involved has also been retained for forensic examination as investigators work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting and identify all persons connected to the incident.
The shooting is believed to be linked to deepening tensions within the Kristo Asafo family over the succession of the late Apostle Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka, with the process reportedly generating disagreements and legal disputes among some family members.
By 1960news.com
