Apostle Safo is a preacher, inventor, innovator, physicist and chemist, Biologist, Agriculturalist and Philanthropist. His goal is to free Africa from the bonds of slavery so that it can become independent economically. He will accomplish this by using science and technology to empower Africa.
As a young man growing up in Bekwai in the Ashanti Region, he always had passion for science and technology and grew up desiring to pursue and develop his talent in that space. He furthered his education in Ghana Technical Institute in Kuma and thereafter worked as a welder for three years at the Volta Aluminum Company.
The Kantanka cars were not the first creation of Apostle Kwadwo Sarfo. He first fabricated electrical drums with brain units, loudspeakers, amplifiers, pre-amps, and so on due his earlier training and love for music. He also fabricated sewing embroidery machines, a 26 Flat Screen Sensor television (powered by human breathe and turned off by the wave of a hand).
The invention of cars
The manufacturing of Katanka cars started in the late 1990s, at Gomoa Mpota in the Central Region of Ghana. Apostle Safo first manufactured an automobile “Katanka Saloon” in 1998. He continued to manufacture a Cross Country 4 – Wheel Drive “Kantanka Onantefo I” in 2006, Onantefo II in 2007, and a 26 feet-long stretch Limousine, “Kantanka Obrempon” in 2007. Kantanka managed to produce 30% the car parts in Ghana therefore making the brand attained made-in Ghana status and one of the first in Africa to do so.
Initially, the company used hand-made tools and could only produce one car in a year. Prior to a partnership with a Chinese company, Kantanka was able to install modern facilities that boosted their production capacity from one car in a year to 5 in a day. The Kantanka Group believed in training experts with the dreaming of proving to the world that Ghana can replicate their efforts. The company’s motivation is based on the quote of the first Black President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, that ‘the Black man is capable of managing his own affairs’. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the car the black person drives as well.
The company had been questioned by many academics as they believe its techniques and practices lack theoretical grounding. The interest for the local brand remains a big problem despite all the achievements. Kantanka Automobile Company Ltd was certified by the Ghana Standard Authority and had worked to acquire all the necessary certifications that accentuated the brand’s quality. Over the years the company had doored some of its demonstration-type projects which included a defence helicopter (named KTK O2), Kantanka passenger airplane, and the Kantanka RPGs during events. The prices of the Kantanka cars are relatively cheaper than most of the foreign cars that are imported to the country.
In recent years, Apostle was awarded the best scientist in Africa at the maiden Marcus Garvey Ball and Banquet awards held at the Swiss Spirit, Alisa hotel in Accra. He defeated self-taught engineer Gideon Asare and Jamaican scientist Dr. Lawrence William to win Africa’s Best Scientist in the Science and Technology category. His mission of redeeming Africa from the bonds of slavery so that it can become independent economically. He would accomplish this by using science and technology to empower Africa. His views reflect his enthusiasm for Africa’s development, which puts him in a position to win the prize
credit: Benjamin Darko