Archbishop Elisha Salifu Amoako
A Circuit Court in Accra yesterday heard that Archbishop Elisha Salifu Amoako and his wife, Mouha Amoako admitted to allowing their 16-year-old son to drive.
Court documents state that the couple “admitted during investigations that they allowed their son to drive to the gym, within their neighbourhood, and to other places.”
Their son, Elrad Amoako was involved in a fatal accident which led to the death of two 12-year-old girls at East Legon on October 12, 2024.
Several others, including himself and another person in the Jaguar SUV he was driving also got injured.
The accident occurred around 6pm last Saturday when Elrad Salifu Amoako drove his parent’s Jaguar SUV into a 4×4 Acura, resulting in a fire that burnt both vehicles beyond recognition.
The 4×4 Acura vehicle with registration number GR 2542 – 23, was being driven by Joseph Ackah with four other occupants, at Mensah Wood Street at East Legon.
The couple, together with another accused named Linda Bonsu Bempah, have been charged with one cunt of ‘permitting unlicensed person to drive, contrary to Regulation 42 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180).
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and their lawyers took turns to pray the court to admit them to bail pending the trial.
Justice Abdulai, counsel for Archbishop Amoako told the court that the couple are model parents who are admired by their community not because of the way they conduct themselves, but also because of the impact they make on society.
Mr. Abdulai further stated that the couple’s son through which the accident occurred, admittedly contributed to what has happened but he is also a victim and at the hospital.
He added that the court can easily conclude that the couple have done nothing wrong and are only in court because of their biological connection to their son.
Ebenezer Yaw Acquah, an Assistant State Attorney did not oppose the applications for bail but told the court to set conditions that will compel the accused persons to appear before the court.
He also urged the court to order the accused persons to deposit their passports and Ghana Cards with the police as well as set a bail sum that deter the sureties from assisting them to abscond.
The court, after listening to the parties, granted the accused person a bail of GH¢50,000 each with two sureties each and adjourned the case to October 30, 2024.
The prosecution’s brief facts state that on October 12, 2024, while celebrating the 25th birthday of his elder brother, Bonsu Prempeh (A3) gave the key to Mouha Amoako’s Jaguar F-Pace Sport SUV, with registration number GN 7801-20, to the 16-year-old, knowing very well that he was a minor and did not have a driver’s licence.
The 16-year-old then drove the vehicle with his friend, Prince Tijani, heading towards the Bawaleshie direction on Dzanie Ashie Street.
It said upon reaching a section of the road at the Mensa Wood Avenue junction, he drove into the rear of an Acura 4×4 vehicle with registration number GR 2542-23.
The brief facts indicate that impact propelled both vehicles across the road into a nearby house’s fence wall. Both vehicles caught fire and were burned beyond recognition.
Two occupants of the Acura, namely Justine Agbenu and Maame Dwomoh Boateng, both 12 years of age, were trapped in the vehicle and died in the fire.
The 16-year-old and two of the injured occupants are currently admitted to the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak
