Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako’s son, who caused an accident at East Legon, leading to the loss of two lives, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment.
The 16-year-old juvenile offender was sentenced by the Juvenile Court in Accra, after he pleaded guilty to eight counts of manslaughter, negligently causing harm, dangerous driving and driving without licence.
He is to serve his sentence at the Senior Correctional Home.
Earlier on, he denied the charges, but this morning he changed his plea and was sentenced accordingly by the court, presided over by Madam Bernice MensimahAckon. Ghana’s Juvenile Justice Act prescribes six months as the maximum sentence.
The juvenile offender is to sign an undertaking not to drive until he is 18 years old.He will report to Probation Officers every Friday.
His parents, Bishop Amoako and Mouha Amoako, were also sentenced to pay a fine of GHC6,000 each.
The court also ordered the parents to pay for the damage caused to properties that were affected by the crush and they are to ensure proper upbringing of their son through an undertaking.
The case stems from a tragic crash on October 12, 2024 which resulted in the death of two 12-year-old girls, Maame Dwomoh Boateng and Justine Agbenu.
The case, presented by Ebenezer Yaw Acquah, an Assistant State Attorney, narrated earlier that the juvenile offender is a student living in Adjiriganor, Accra and was supported by his father, Elisha Salifu Amoako, the founder of Alive Chapel International, as well as his mother, Mouha Amoako and his elder brother, Elyon Amoako.
Prosecution told the court that despite the juvenile offender’s age and the lack of a valid driver’s license, his family members frequently allowed him access to their cars and permitted him to drive.
On October 12, 2024 during Elyon’s birthday party, held at an events centre in East Legon, in Accra, the juvenile offender requested keys to his mother’s Jaguar F-Pace Sports (GN 6801-20) from a guest, Linda Bonsu Bempah.
The prosecution said Linda Bempah, who was Elyon Amoako’s personal assistant, had been entrusted with the keys to the Jaguar F-Pace Sport vehicle, while supervising the event.
During the party, the accused requested the keys from Linda Bempah and she handed them over.
The juvenile offender took the car and drove to A&C Mall with a friend, where they met others waiting in two SUVs.
The three vehicles, prosecution said, formed a convoy, with the accused leading with his mother’s car as they drove through the East Legon area.
The court heard that while driving on the Dzane-Ashie Road, the accused recklessly decided to show off the speed of the vehicle, ignoring the presence of other motorists.
Prosecution said the accused also failed to consider the road safety rules as he approached a T- junction and he violently ran with the rear of the two SUV Acura.
The vehicles crashed into a nearby wall and also damaged a ECG Pole in the process.
Two vehicles caught fire creating a raging inferno.
The accused and his passenger managed to escape but Joseph Ackah, the driver of the Acura and three passengers, including the two12-year-old girls, were trapped inside.
Prosecution said Ackah opened his door and leaped into the flames to rescue the toddler and help others.
Sadly, the volunteers were unable to help the two girls because the fire grew more intense.
Police investigations revealed that the accused fell below the standard of a competent driver, thereby leading to the tragic incident.
By Joyce Danso,
GNA
