Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has reflected on the passing of Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo, placing the Ghanaian innovator in the company of global technological giants.
Drawing a comparison with Gordon Moore, the co-founder of Intel whose “Moore’s Law” transformed the microchip industry and shaped Silicon Valley, Simons argued that Apostle Safo’s contributions represented a bold attempt to carve out a uniquely African path in industrial and technological advancement.
“Let’s take two technical visionaries, one Western and the other African. Towering figures with careers spanning more than half a century. For the US/West, let’s go for, say, Gordon Moore, whose ‘Moore’s Law’ defined the microchip industry, remade Silicon Valley, and birthed a new world.
“For Ghana/Africa, shall we settle on Apostle Kwadwo Safo, who sadly passed away today (may his precious soul be kept), and is known for his bold technological and techno-industrial visions wrapped in a rousing pan-Africanism?”
Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa
Simons noted that while Moore’s contributions generated about 80 billion dollars in economic value, Apostle Safo’s work created roughly 30 million dollars. He pointed out that the gap could not be explained only by the size of the markets in which they operated.
Instead, he highlighted deeper structural issues that limited the potential of African visionaries. His central argument rested on the idea of “talent propulsion.”
According to him, Moore and Intel sustained their growth by aggressively cultivating talent, creating a self-reinforcing cycle that spread expertise across the global electronics industry. Apostle Safo, despite his grand vision for indigenous technology, lacked a similarly robust system to harness and propel talent on a large scale.
Simons argued that the absence of this talent flywheel to aggregate and diffuse economic value prevented Apostle Safo’s innovations from achieving their full transformative impact.
Simons also remarked that Moore’s stretch-target – doubling the power of microchips every 18 months – created a ruthless focus on innovation and talent retention, ensuring Intel’s dominance in the microchip industry. He contrasted this with Safo’s bold but less structured ambitions for Ghanaian technology.
“Apostle Safo also set out massive visions of indigenous technology. He wanted to put Ghana on the frontier. But his vision did not include the kind of moonshot stretch-target that would have compelled a ruthless focus on attracting and motivating the smartest.
“Ultimately, the economic value created was much smaller. All said, though, on vision alone, Apostle Safo and Kantanka will definitely make the history books. Rest in peace”
Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa
Family Confirms Passing
The Safo family and the Kristo Asafo Church officially confirmed the passing of Apostle Safo.
“With profound sorrow and deepest grief, the Safo family and the Kristo Asafo Church announce the peaceful passing of Ghana’s beloved man of God, the greatest technological icon, philanthropist, agriculturalist and industrialist”
The Safo Family
The announcement, signed by his daughter and former Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Adwoa Safo, described him as “a true genius, a beacon of hope for many, and a father to the fatherless.” The family added that funeral arrangements would be made public in due course and requested privacy during this period of mourning.
Apostle Safo’s passing marks the end of an era in Ghana’s technological and industrial story. Through the Kantanka brand, he sought to demonstrate that indigenous ingenuity could thrive, even against structural and economic odds.
His innovations in vehicles, machinery, and agricultural tools were celebrated as symbols of resilience and self-reliance. Beyond technology, he stood out for his philanthropic work and his role as the founder and leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission, blending faith with service to the community.
His life continues to resonate as a reminder of what bold vision can achieve, even when faced with limitations. While Bright Simons highlighted the structural gaps that held back the full realisation of Safo’s dreams, the Apostle’s place in Ghana’s history remains assured.
He leaves behind a legacy that bridges science, faith, and social responsibility, ensuring his name will be remembered for generations to come.
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