Shop attendant gave the keys to Salifu Amoako’s 16-year-old son to drive – Prosecution tells court

A sales assistant has been accused as the person who gave the key of the Jaguar vehicle to the 16-year-old son of Elisha Salifu Amoako who caused the East Legon accident that killed two 12-year-old girls.

The sales assistant works for the 25-year-old elder brother of the 16-year-old boy.

Prosecutors on Wednesday accused the sales assistant, Linda Bonsu Bempah, who has been charged together with Pastor Elisha Salifu Amoako, who is the founder and General Overseer of Alive Chapel International, and the mother of the boy, Mouha Amoako.

They have been charged with one count of permitting unlicensed person to drive contrary to Regulation 42 of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2180.

They were arraigned at an Accra Circuit Court and have been granted bail in the sum of GH¢150,000.

Their son, a 16-year-old boy rammed the car into another one at East Legon, killing two people

According to the prosecution, Linda Bonsu Bempah, the sales attendant, “gave the key to the vehicle to the 16-year-old knowing very well that he was a minor and did not have a driver's licence”.

But the three accused persons have been charged with one count each of permitting unlicensed person to drive contrary to Regulation 42 of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2180.

According to the prosecution led by Ebenezer Yaw Acquah, the parents admitted during investigations that they allowed their son to drive the vehicle to the gym.

The accused persons have, however denied the charges and have been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢ 50,000 each with two sureties. 

Prosecution’s facts 

Per the facts accompanying the charge sheet, on October 12, 2024, while celebrating the 25th birthday of his elder brother Elyon Amoako, Bempah gave the key to the vehicle 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 boy then drove the said vehicle with his friend, heading towards the Bawaleshie direction on the Dzanie Ashie street. 

“On reaching a section of the road at Mensah Wood Avenue junction, he drove into the rear of an Acura 4x4 vehicle with registration number GR 2542-23.

“The impact propelled both vehicles across the road into a fence wall of a nearby house. Both vehicles caught fire and got burnt beyond recognition,” the prosecution said. 

The prosecutor added that the two occupants of the Acura, 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, according to the prosecution, are currently on admission at the University of Ghana Medical Centre.

Read also: Salifu Amoako and son's mother charged with allowing an unlicensed person to drive

Arrest

Elisha Salifu Amoako of Alive Chapel International and the mother of his son, Mouha Amoako were arrested and detained on Tuesday by the police for their son's involvement in the East Legon accident last Saturday.

Their son, a 16-year-old [name withheld], who was driving a white Jaguar rammed a Honda Acura at East Legon and killed the two 12-year-old girls on the spot.

Read also: East Legon accident victims were two 12-year-old girls - Police

Police investigations have so far established that on October 12, 2024, the suspect driver, [name withheld], aged 16, was driving a Jaguar SUV vehicle with registration number GN 7801 - 20 with one other occupant.

He rammed into a 4x4 Honda Acura vehicle also with registration number GR 2542 - 23, which was being driven by Joseph Ackah with four other occupants.

The accident happened at Mensah Wood Street at East Legon. 

Both cars caught fire and burned beyond recognition.

Police investigation as of now indicates that three of the five victims in the Honda Acura vehicle during the accident were rescued.

Two of the rescued victims who sustained minor injuries were treated and discharged, while the third is still on admission receiving medical attention.

The suspect driver, the 16-year-old with the other occupant in the Jaguar vehicle were also rescued and are currently on admission at the hospital.

The parents of the minor suspect driver, Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako and Mouha Amoako, are currently in custody assisting the investigation, a police statement issued Tuesday, four days after the accident said.

The police explained that a team from the Police Management Board, led by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr.George Akuffo Dampare on Tuesday visited the bereaved family to commiserate with them and also visited the injured at the hospital.

POLICE UPDATE ONE ON FATAL EAST LEGON ACCIDENT: PARENTS OF SUSPECT DRIVER ARRESTED

1. The Ghana Police Service has today 15th October 2024, arrested suspects, Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako and Mouha Amoako, parents of the suspect driver involved in the fatal accident that claimed two lives at East Legon on Saturday, 12th October 2024.

2. Investigations have so far established that on 12th October 2024, suspect driver, .... aged 16, driving a Jaguar SUV vehicle with registration number GN 7801 - 20 with one other occupant, rammed into a 4x4 Acura vehicle also with registration number GR 2542 - 23, driven by Joseph Ackah with four other occupants, at Mensah Wood Street at East Legon. Both cars caught fire and burned beyond recognition.

3. The investigation further indicates that three of the five victims in the Acura vehice during the accident were rescued, and the other two identified, both 12 years of age, lost their lives. Two of the rescued victims who sustained minor injuries were treated and discharged, while the third is still on admission receiving medical attention.

4. The suspect driver with the other occupant in the Juaguar vehicle were also rescued and are currently on admission at the hospital.

5. The parents of the 16-year-old suspect driver, Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako and Mouha Amoako, are currently in custody assisting the investigation.

6. Meanwhile, a team from the Police Management Board, led by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, today 15th October 2024, visited the bereaved family to commiserate with them and also visited the injured at the hospital.

7. The Police would like to assure the public of a thorough investigation into the accident to bring closure to the affected family, as we continue to remember them in our prayers in this difficult time.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh 

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