East Legon Accident: 16-year-old charged with manslaughter, pleads not guilty

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly causing a fatal accident in East Legon that claimed two lives.

The juvenile, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces eight counts, including manslaughter, negligently causing harm, dangerous driving, and driving without a license.

Appearing before the Family and Juvenile Court in Accra on November 1, 2024, he pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court has since remanded him to a correctional facility and ordered him to surrender his American and Ghanaian passports. He is scheduled to reappear in court on November 7.

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Prosecution’s case

Presenting the facts, Assistant State Attorney Ebenezer Yaw Acquah noted that despite the accused’s age and lack of a valid driver’s license, his family members frequently allowed him access to their vehicles.

On October 12, 2024, the accused’s family held a birthday party for Elyon Amoako at an event centre in East Legon. During the event, the teenager reportedly asked Linda Bonsu Bempah for the keys to his mother's Jaguar F-Pace Sport, which she handed over. Linda is a personal assistant to Elyon Amoako and during her duties supervising events at the party, had been given the keys to hold on to.

According to the prosecution, the accused, along with a friend, drove to the A&C Mall, where they met friends in two other SUVs. The three cars then formed a convoy, led by the accused in his mother’s car, driving through East Legon.

The prosecutor said that on Dzane-Ashie Road, the accused allegedly accelerated to high speeds, ignoring other road users. As he approached a T-junction at Mensah Wood Avenue, he collided with an Acura driven by Joseph Ackah, who was transporting his employer’s two daughters and their friends, both 12 years old.

Mr. Acquah recounted, “The 16-year-old rammed into the rear of the Acura; the collision was violent and destructive, propelling both vehicles across the street and smashing into the wall of the house opposite the junction, destroying an ECG pole in the process.”

Both vehicles caught fire immediately. While the accused and his passenger managed to escape, the occupants of the Acura were trapped inside. Bystanders attempted to douse the flames with fire extinguishers but were unable to suppress the blaze.

The driver forced his door open and was pulled to safety, but the volunteers were only able to rescue the toddler and her sister from the back seat. Tragically, the two other girls remained trapped, and bystanders were ultimately unable to save them as the car burned.

An investigation found that the accused had been driving in a manner “that fell way below what was expected of any competent and careful driver,” recklessly endangering other road users.

The accused admitted to taking the keys from Linda Bempah, picking up a friend, and driving to the A&C Mall before the incident.