The family members of the two preteens who sadly lost their lives in the East Legon accident have expressed mixed emotions after the court sentenced the 16-year-old son of Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako, Founder and General Overseer of Alive Chapel International Church, to six months in a disciplinary facility. While the family accepted the court's decision, they voiced their dissatisfaction with the mercifulness of the six-month sentence for the boy deemed responsible for the crash.
The grandmother of Justine Agbenu, one of the victims, expressed her frustration, arguing that the sentence was inadequate. She called for reforms to the country's laws to ensure tyrannous punishments for such cases.
In her words, in Twi: "What can I say, what am I supposed to say? The court has given its judgement, but I pray that one day the laws will change. You can’t kill two people through reckless driving and get away with this. This is my issue."
Family members also criticized the GH¢6,000 fine imposed on Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako and his wife, Mouha Amoako. They particularly took issue with the pastor’s remarks, where he claimed he did not need a driver’s license to drive and downplayed the severity of the incident, stating that his son hadn’t killed anyone with a gun.
Background: Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako and his wife, Mouha Amoako, were reportedly fined GH¢6,000 each for the fatal accident in East Legon that resulted in the deaths of the two preteens. The court also ordered the pastor to pay over GH¢8,000 for damages to a light pole at the accident site.
The 16-year-old, who was held responsible for the crash, was sentenced to six months at a senior correctional centre after pleading guilty to eight charges, including two counts of manslaughter. He had been remanded at the Osu Correctional Centre before his sentencing.
Police prosecutors revealed that the teenager had been recklessly showcasing the speed of his parents' Jaguar F-Pace Sport when it collided with the vehicle carrying the victims. Reports indicate the boy had driven the white Jaguar to A&C Mall, where he met friends in two SUVs. The three vehicles formed a convoy, with the accused leading the way through East Legon in his mother’s Jaguar.
During proceedings at the Family and Juvenile Court, the 16-year-old initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, before later being remanded in custody. Specific instructions regarding his care and custody were issued.
In addition to the teenager, Bishop Salifu Amoako, his wife, Mouha Amoako, and Linda Bonsu Prempeh, a sales assistant, were arrested and charged with "permitting an unlicensed person to drive." They all pleaded not guilty in court on 16 October 2024, with the Accra Circuit Court granting bail to the Amoakos and Linda Bonsu Prempeh in the amount of GH¢50,000 each, with two sureties.
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