A spokesperson of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s family, Nana Karikari, has dismissed claims that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II personally fixed the date for the renowned inventor’s funeral.

According to him, speculation suggesting the Asantehene selected the funeral date is false and misrepresents Asante custom.

Speaking on the matter, Nana Karikari explained that under tradition, traditional rulers do not impose funeral dates on families. Rather, the bereaved family proposes a date, which is then presented to the Asantehene for his approval.

He said the family first followed this customary process during Apostle Safo’s 40-day observance by presenting a proposed date to Otumfuo, which was subsequently approved.

The same procedure, he noted, was followed for the final funeral rites, with the family proposing July 25, a date that also received the Asantehene’s approval.

However, he explained that the approved date could not be honoured because of the ongoing legal dispute surrounding the funeral arrangements.

Nana Karikari further questioned how former Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo settled on July 29 for the funeral, insisting that the family was unaware of how that date was chosen.

His comments come amid an ongoing court battle over the burial arrangements for Apostle Safo, which has resulted in a 10-day interim injunction temporarily halting the funeral.