Attorney General (AG) hassubmitted initial disclosure documents it plans to use in the trial of Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako, founder of Alive Chapel International, and his wife, Mouha Amoako, concerning an accident involving their underage son.
The incident led to the tragic deaths of two young girls in East Legon.
According to a report by Daily Guide Network, the Attorney General’s Office has not yet filed witness statements for individuals expected to testify in the case.
These statements will be used to support the charge against the couple for “permitting an unlicensed person to drive.”
Assistant State Attorney Yaw Acquah informed the court on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, that the prosecution had filed the first set of disclosure documents, which were still pending service to the defence.
The court directed Yaw Acquah to file the remaining documents by Thursday, November 28, 2024, in preparation for a case management conference.
In earlier proceedings, the court heard that Salifu Amoako and his wife had admitted to allowing their underage son to operate the vehicle.
Their son,isfacing a total of eight charges,including two counts of manslaughter, three counts of negligently causing harm, two counts of dangerous driving, and one count of driving without a valid license.
The 16-year-old son of Bishop Salifu Amoako, Elrad,has been charged with manslaughter following a tragic accident in East Legon that resulted in the deaths of two individuals.
The minor, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, faces multiple charges, including manslaughter, negligent harm, dangerous driving, and operating a vehicle without a licence.
On November 1, 2024, he appeared in front of the Family and Juvenile Court in Accra, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him. The court has remanded him to a correctional facility and ordered him to hand over both his American and Ghanaian passports. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 7.
Prosecution’s case:
During the proceedings, Assistant State Attorney Ebenezer Yaw Acquah presented key facts, emphasizing that despite the defendant’s youth and the absence of a valid driver’s license, family members consistently allowed him access to their vehicles.
On October 12, 2024, the defendant’s family hosted a birthday celebration for Elyon Amoako at an event center located in East Legon. During the festivities, the teenager allegedly requested the keys to his mother’s Jaguar F-Pace Sport from Linda Bonsu Bempah, who complied with his request.
Linda, who serves as a personal assistant to Elyon Amoako, had been tasked with overseeing the event and was in possession of the keys at the time.
The prosecution contends that the defendant, accompanied by a friend, drove to the A&C Mall, where they joined other friends in two additional SUVs. The three vehicles formed a convoy, with the defendant leading in his mother’s car as they drove through East Legon.
According to the prosecutor, while on Dzane-Ashie Road, the defendant allegedly accelerated to excessive speeds, disregarding the safety of other road users. Upon approaching 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 aged 12..
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 ignited almost immediately after the collision. While the defendant and his passenger were able to escape, the occupants of the Acura found themselves trapped inside. Bystanders rushed to the scene, attempting to extinguish the flames with fire extinguishers, but their efforts proved futile.
The driver managed to force open his door and was pulled to safety, but the rescuers could only free the toddler and her sister from the back seat. Unfortunately, two other girls remained trapped inside, and despite the valiant attempts of onlookers, they were unable to save them as the car continued to burn.
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.
Teenage son of Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako,founder of Alive Chapel International, Elrad Amoako, has been placed in custody by the Accra Juvenile and Family Court due to his involvement in a recent tragic incident in East Legon.
A statement issued on Friday, November 1, 2024, stated, “The suspect, Elrad Salifu Amoako, was put before the Court on November 1, 2024, on eight counts, including the offence of manslaughter. He was subsequently remanded by the Court to a Correction Centre to reappear on 7th November 2024.”
The court has confiscated Elrad’s travel documents to mitigate any risk of him fleeing.
The tragic accident that took place on October 12, 2024, resulted in the deaths of two young children, leading to widespread public demands for accountability.
In response, the court has ordered a medical evaluation for Elrad to take place on Monday at the University of Ghana Hospital, aimed at assessing his physical and mental well-being.
He is scheduled to return to court on November 7, 2024, for further discussions regarding his involvement and the potential legal actions that may follow.
The minor driver who crashed a Jaguar vehicle into an Acura at East Legon on October 12 has been discharged from the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).
This is according to a medical report
“He is currently mobilising non weight bearing on his right leg. He was discharged on 28 October 2024 to be reviewed on O.P.D basis. He is currently not fit to be sent to the police station for interrogation. When he is done with treatment, I will inform you accordingly,” the doctor wrote.
On October 12, 2024, a tragic accident occurred on Mensah Wood Street, East Legon, involving a Jaguar SUV driven by 16-year-old Elrad Salifu Amoako, who was accompanied by a passenger.
The Jaguar, bearing registration GN 7801-20, collided with a 4×4 Acura vehicle with registration GR 2542-23, driven by Joseph Ackah and carrying four additional passengers.
The impact caused both vehicles to catch fire, leaving them burnt beyond recognition.
Police investigations revealed that three of the five occupants in the Acura were rescued, while two young passengers, Justine Agbenu and Maame Dwomoh, both aged 12, tragically lost their lives.
The surviving rescued passengers, who sustained minor injuries, received medical treatment and were discharged shortly after. The two deceased have since been laid to rest.
Ghanaian actor and politician John Dumelo has demanded justice after the tragic accident involving Archbishop Salifu Amoako’s son, which resulted in two fatalities.
Though he withheld personal judgement on the situation, Dumelo stressed the need for a thorough police investigation and the proper accountability of those involved.
As the NDC parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, he also pledged to monitor the case closely to ensure the bereaved families receive the justice they deserve.
“I want to see justice served. I don’t want to preempt anything, but of course, an accident has occurred. Let the law take its course and see where the case goes. It’s something we should follow through,” he said during the burial service of one of the deceased held on October 23, 2024.
His comments came in response to questions about whether Salifu Amoako should face consequences following his son’s involvement in the fatal accident.
Background
CCTV footage from the crash on Saturday, October 12, 2024, has shed light on the accident that claimed the lives of two young girls and left three others in critical condition.
The video shows Elrad, the son of Archbishop Salifu Amoako, speeding towards a junction before colliding with another vehicle, sparking a fire.
Assistant Division Officer (ADO) Alex King Nartey of theGhana National Fire Service (GNFS) confirmed the details in an interview on Adom FM, revealing that the deceased were passengers in the Acura involved in the collision.
Media figure Nana Yaa Brefo has spoken out against Archbishop Salifu Amoako,the General Overseer of Alive Chapel International Ministry, following an incident where his church members assaulted journalists outside the court.
Brefo condemned the actions of those involved, highlighting that resorting to violence in defence of their pastor contradicts Biblical principles.
The Onua FM presenter emphasised that it was unjustifiable for the upset congregants to confront the media, noting that such behaviour damages the reputation of Christianity in the public eye.
“Let me tell the church led by Bishop Salifu. They should never do that uncivilised thing again. Sometimes you can’t tell which God some Christians serve; it’s difficult to comprehend.
“When an armed robber is arrested, people don’t carry weapons to the police station. Sometimes we behave as if we can direct God and are even wiser than Him.
Sometimes we want to twist God’s hand to do our bidding. Some of us are hypocrites,” Yaa Brefo said while speaking on Onua FM.
This incident follows an attack on a GHOne TV journalist outside the court on October 16, 2024, which resulted in injuries to the reporter and sparked widespread condemnation from the public.
Archbishop Salifu Amoako, his wife Mouha Amoako, and Linda Bempah, a sales assistant, were arrested and charged with allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle.
On October 16, 2024, the High Court in Accra granted bail of GH¢50,000 each to the trio after their arrest on October 15, 2024.
This situation comes on the heels of a tragic car accident involving Salifu Amoako’s youngest son, 16-year-old Elrad Salifu Amoako, who was involved in a fatal collision in East Legon on October 12, 2024. The crash claimed the lives of two young girls.
Elrad was driving a Jaguar SUV (GN 7801-20) when he collided with a 4×4 Acura vehicle (GR 2542-23) driven by Joseph Ackah. The impact caused both vehicles to ignite, resulting in the occupants of the Acura being burned beyond recognition.
Notably, Bishop Salifu has publicly denounced the actions of his church members and condemned their violent conduct.
Cornerstone International Academy has confirmed the tragic loss of two students in a recent car accident in East Legon involving a collision between two vehicles.
The institution also reported that two additional students are currently receiving medical care in the hospital.
The crash resulted in a fire that consumed both vehicles, leaving them unrecognizable, and led to the fatalities of two individuals, along with injuries to three others.
In an official statement, the school expressed its sorrow over the passing of its students due to the incident. To support the grieving families, Cornerstone International Academy has decided to suspend academic activities starting October 15, 2024.
The school will observe a mid-term break and is set to resume classes on October 21, 2024.
“As we mourn the loss of our beloved students, our thoughts and prayers remain with the affected families. In this difficult time, we have decided to close school early for the mid-term break, effective tomorrow, October 15, 2024,” excerpts of the statement read.
“This adjustment demonstrates solidarity with grieving families and allows students and staff to process their emotions.”
“May the departed souls rest in peace. We wish those hospitalised a speedy recovery.”
