Archbishop Elisha Salifu and Mouha Amoako
Archbishop Elisha Salifu Amoako and his wife, Mouha Amoako were rearrested yesterday moments after they were discharged by a Circuit Court in Accra over their son’s fatal accident which led to the death of two 12-year-old girls at East Legon on October 12, 2024.
The Office of the Attorney General withdrew the case against the two, indicating the need to conduct further investigations before taking any further steps in the matter.
The two together with Linda Bonsu Bempah, an employee of their eldest son, were charged with one count 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 were granted GH¢50,000 bail each by the court.
On December 19, 2024, the juvenile was convicted and sentenced to six months’ incarceration at the Senior Correctional Centre over the accident.
This was after the 16-year-old pleaded guilty to eight charges, including manslaughter of the two young girls at East Legon on October 12, 2024.
Withdrawal
An Assistant State Attorney, Ebenezer Yaw Acquah, told the court yesterday that it had been deemed necessary to allow the police to conduct further investigations into the matter, to determine the direction the prosecution should take.
“As such, we are before you this morning to withdraw the charge sheet against the accused persons,” he added.
Defence lawyers did not oppose the withdrawal, and the court presided over by His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, subsequently struck out the case as withdrawn and discharged all three accused persons.
“If the AG that brought the case is now praying for the withdrawal of the case, and the counsel of the accused persons are in support of the withdrawal, the court has nothing to do. The prayer of the AG is granted and matter struck out as withdrawn. The accused persons are discharged,” he ruled.
Trial
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 the 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.
It added that Prophet Amoako and Mouha Amoako “admitted during investigations that they allowed their son to drive to the gym, within their neighbourhood, and to other places.”
BY Gibril Abdul Razak