The family behind Ghana's 'made to survive anything' car

 A pastor is perhaps an unlikely candidate to become Ghana's first car manufacturer.

But that's what Kwadwo Safo, founder of the Christ Reformed Church, and who is known locally as the "Star of Africa", has done.

And the inventor has become something of a legend in Ghana.

Safo started his family business, Kantanka, 20 years ago, making electrical devices from TVs and sound systems to musical instruments and sewing machines in a country with virtually no history of manufacturing.

As a child he'd had a knack for building things, and before becoming a pastor he'd trained as a welder.

"(My father) had ambition and foresight. He thought of everything in preparation of Kantanka," says Safo's son, Kwadwo Safo Jr.

Today, Kantanka Group is split into an electronics division and a car manufacturing company -- Ghana's first car-maker. 

 

KWADWO SAFO JNR IS THE CEO OF THE KANTANKA FAMILY CAR BUSINESS

 

Made in Ghana

The "made in Ghana" cars were modeled for tough local conditions -- and, to prove it, the Ghanaian police test drove them.

Safo Jr, 30, says he has learned a lot from his father.

"We are expanding our current production line to include a lower-end model which we will launch before the end of the year," he says.

"We have made quite significant sales, including a very important one to the office of the president."

 

source:  http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/27/africa/ghana-kantanka-family-kwadwo-safo/index.html?sr=twcnni072716ghana-kantanka-family-kwadwo-safo1032AMStoryGalLink&linkId=26983369