"*HISTORY*"

There is one saying which goes like, there is no smoke without a fire; in same vein that the journey towards the establishment of this noble church did not rise out of the blues, there was a beginning. History is always there to sharpen the thoughts of the current generation and possibly guide them towards their future and how to a positive impart towards their aspirations. The story towards the birth of the church and its nurturing stage was a challenging one. Kwadwo Donkor was born to poor Opanin Yaw Safo and Madam Akosua Amoanimaa in the Ashante Bekwai district in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. There were so many circumstances surrounding his birth and growing up in general. Life was not fair to him... He therefore left Kumasi to seek for a better life in Accra, the capital city of Ghana.

"*THE TRANSITION*"

I do not intend to bore you with all long talks about the Genesis of the church, however, it is only prudent we reflect on our past to better appreciate what future holds for us. In the early days of the establishment of the church yet again series of challenges befell him, explaining reasons why the church reincarnated from four different deaths. Amidst all these challenges he was optimistic about the future, most importantly he said times without number that he was going to succeed and have in his processions fleet of cars that could be lined up to a certain distance. YES he did say that, and it is now obvious that his cars will outdistance his initial speculation and this is attributable to 'hard work'.

"*THE WAY FORWARD*"

And I put on record that, believe it or not, the African giant is up, He's woken from his stone dead sleep and ready for the fight for supremacy. He remains the citadel of hope to the black star and ever sparkling in thickest of clouds.

"*CAUTION*"

The late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela once said, "There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain top of our desires.". "Indeed Apostle Safo has come a long way he's been through it all, I therefore plead we observe this day with the accorded respect and live peacefully and harmoniously with ourselves.

GOD BLESS 3RD FEBRUARY, GOD BLESS APOSTLE SAFO, GOD BLESS KRISTO ASAFO, GOD BLESS GHANA AND GOD BLESS THE ENTIRE AFRICAN RACE 

Source: oilcitytoday.com

He said being branded as "The Star of Africa", with lots of support he would take Ghana to a higher pedestal before "his creator would call him to rest". Ha called for more collaboration fro other institutions to all help build the technological future of Ghana and Africa.

The Visit

The Kumasi Polytechnic team visited the Electrical, Electronics, Pattern Making, Spraying, Wielding, Foundry and Architecture Departments at the centre.

Source: Joseph Kyei-Boateng 0n 21st Dcember 2015

Apostle Safo also gave each of the teachers and management of the institution a wax print and cash for their commitment at improving the welfare of the children.

The donation was made on his behalf by one of his daughter, Ms Sika Safo.

A sod was also cut for the construction of a dining hall for MTC, which currently has a population of 60 children, the majority of whom are between the ages 10 and 15.

CHILDREN EXCITED

It was a day of joy and great excitement for the children when the leadership of the Kristo Asafo Mission, headed by Ms Safo, visited the institution.

Each of the children was also given a pocket of food, drinks and souvenirs.

Presenting the items, Ms Safo and the gesture formed part of the annual programme to celebrate the father's birthday.

According to her, Apostle Safo, over the past years, had celebrated his birthday with the less privileged and also used the occasion to assist needy institutions.

Touching on why Apostle Safo chose the MTC, Ms Safo said that he discovered the predication of the children in a recent documentary shown on Utv, adding that "since that day, he had resolved to do something about the children's condition."

MTC GRATEFUL

The founder of MTC, Mr Joseph Jehu-Appiah, commented Apostle Safo for the support and love he had shown the children.

He said since the centre was established 10 years ago, the management continued to serve needs of the children despite the numerous challenges it faced.

Mr Jehu-Appiah, therefore, called on other agencies to come to the aide of the centre to enable it to support the children.

Source: Dominic Moses Awiah, Graphiconline.com on 07 August 2015

The type of eggs determines the time needed for hatching e.g. for eggs of hens, the Kantanka electric incubator uses 21 days to hatch them whiles it uses 28 days (maximum) to hatch those of guinea fowls and so on.

With the capacity of producing 600 chicks in less than 28 days, the Kantanka electric incubator can boost the poultry industry and cut down the importation of these foods into the country thereby saving the state lots of cost.

Source: africarm.org

And Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana and one of the fathers of the Pan-African movement. Other notable Ghanaians are Ozwald Boateng a fashion designer, Lord Paul Boateng, British Labour Party politician, member of House of Lords, solicitor, the late Komla Dumor an acclaimed broadcast journalist and Akosua Busia an actress. I could go on and list many more acclaimed people from Ghana but my article is not about them, it is about a man who has not has any form of formal education but has created an empire that has been innovating, creating jobs and opportunities over the last four decades but little is known of him outside the borders of Ghana.

The Kristo Asafo Mission which is the mother company of the companies set up by Apostle Kwadwo Safo instituted the Technology Exhibition in 1983. It is a yearly event to put on display the handiworks and products of Apostle Safo and his team of technologists.On 30th of December I was an invited guest to the 34th Annual Technology Exhibition of the Kristo Asafo Group. To many amazement there were thousands of people who throng the exhibition venue at the Kristo Asafo School of Arts and Sciences Awoshie in Accra to witness the great showcase.

This year's exhibition has been touted as one of a kind, in that Apostle Safo Kantanka exhibited a brand new vehicle known as the Kantanka ring car. with this particular car, the driver only needs a specially made ring worn on any of the finger to start the car. Also, this four wheel drive will not start if the driver is drunk or wearing a bathroom sandals as it has built in sensors that detect alcohol levels in the driver's breath and the shoes he's wearing on the pedals.

The SUVs compare favourably with imported models as other features include: Metallic Paint, Power Steering, 5 Speed Transmission, Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS), Leather Seats, Central Remote Lock System, Power Windows, Side Mirrors are controlled electronically, High End Sound System and Radio, Air-conditioning, Universal Serial Bus (USB) communication protocols to name a few.

He also advised that it is important to spend more time in researching into science and technology. He has also built an incubator for hatching chickens in just 19 days instead of the standard 21 days. Based on the learning experience that came with building this incubator, they have replicated the technology and based on industry specifications they have built an incubator for human babies born prematurely.

On Saturday 24th May 2014, the Soul Health and Wellness Centre (Oheneba Centre) in collaboration wth Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo, founder and leader of Kristo Asafo, organised a Health walk from Ayi-Mensah to Aburi Botanical Gardens.

The walk which started at 5:00 AM saw lots of participants from different parts of Accra and beyond.

At a gathering with the walk participants at Aburi Gardens, Oheneba Ntim Barimah, founder and director of the centre, spoke of the "HELP THE NEEDY" project of which Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo is immensely involved.

After the speech, the participants were conveyed with Metro Mass Transit Buses to the Akropong School for the Blind for a clean up exercise.

Following the clean up exercise, a three days program focusing an the blind was held at the Scenic Hill City of Akropong. The program was climaxed with a grand feast for the students and teachers of the Akropong School for the Blind as part of the HELP THE NEEDY 2014 PROJECT.

Source: Daily Guide Newspaper 30th May 2014

With the installation of an assembling plant at the headquarters of the company for mass production of vehicles, he said he believed the company would be able to train a lot of graduates in the engineering profession for the benefit of the nation.

Apostle Safo Kantanka was speaking at the 34th Annual Technology Exhibition of the Kristo Asafo Group in Accra last Sunday.

"The Kantanka Automobile Company can train a lot of graduates to be innovative thinkers in the fielf of engineering and technology, " he said.

He described as discouraging and worrying, various failed attempts he had made to get graduates placed at the company for their national service.

He further stated that over the years, the Apostle Safo Technology Center had collaborated with educational institutions such as the Kumasi Polytechnic and the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) to train students and prepare them for the job market.

That, he said, was enough evidence that he was capable of training Ghanaians in the engineering field.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology Ghana (IET) also used the occasion to confer on Apostle Safo, a Fellowship of the Institution.

He is among 12 other Ghanaian engineers and technologists who have been conferred with the highest honour of the profession since its establishment in 1986.

The award was bestowed on him by the president of IET. Rev. Engr Eric Ankrah.

In a citation, the Institution recognised Apostle Safo Kantanka's commitment to the application of engineering and technology through his innovations and inventions.

He was also acknowledge for his passion for the numerous projects he had executed as well as training a lot of Ghanaians in the field of engineering.

In an address, a Research Fellow at the Legon Centre for International and Diplomacy (LECIAD), Dr Vladamir Antwi Danso, called on government institutions and agencies to make frantic efforts to purchase in large quantities the Kantanka brand of vehicles when released onto the Ghanaian market in 2015.

According to him, it was not enough for ministers of state and parliamentarians to make promises to purchase the vehicles, adding that they must walk the talk.

"It will only be proper if government institutions and agencies go beyond the promises and purchase the vehicles to boost the nation's economy," he said.

He indicated that it would be inappropriate for such institutions to procure large quantities of vehicles outside the country while a Ghanaian company was capable of meeting such demands.

Source: Graphic.com.gh published on 12/31/2014

Apostle Safo's 2013 Technology Exhibition

Briefing the press at Gomoa Mpota, the manufacturing site in the Central Region, the founder and Leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission, Apostle Safo said the press conference was to provide opportunity for journalists to have first hand information about various technology equipment, which would be displayed at this year's Technology Exhibition, scheduled for December, 29.

Some of the inventions to be displayed in this year's exhibition day include electricity supply machines with powerful local devices installed within vehicles without engines being operated by a sensor and a robot security guard.

Why Africa is still lagging behind

According to Apostle Safo, one major reason why Africans continued to lag behind development countries was the lack of confidence in made-in-Africa products.

He said since many Africans, particularly Ghanaians, placed more confidence in foreign goods than locally manufactured products, local inventors "are not motivated and encouraged to expand their businesses". 

Apostle Safo said if Africans, for that matter Ghanaians , "do not see their own, then the country would continue to be under developed".

Government Support

He said despite the lack of support, he would never be discouraged in his endeavour, adding "my mission is to prove that Africans are capable of doing anything in this world".

He said one of the ways the government could help local businesses was by creating the enabling environment for them to operate , adding "for instance, once full production begins, government could instruct its agencies not to import vehicles again but rather order from ASSTRC".

Source: Dominic Moses Awiah-Daily -Graphic-Ghana- published on 6 December 2013