Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako, his wife, Mouha, and a sales assistant, Linda Bonsu Bempah, have been granted GH₵50,000 bail each in connection with a fatal accident in East Legon that claimed the lives of two individuals.
The bail comes with two sureties for each of the accused.
Incident involving 16-year-old son
The couple was arrested on Monday following an accident allegedly caused by their 16-year-old son, Elrad Salifu.
Elrad is reported to have driven a white Jaguar F-Pace Sport without a license, resulting in a collision with an Acura utility vehicle, which caught fire, leading to the deaths of two occupants.
Charges and court proceedings
Bishop Amoako, his wife, and Linda Bempah appeared before the Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday.
The charges against them relate to allowing an unlicensed minor to operate a vehicle.
The court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, granted bail after all three pleaded not guilty.
Conditions of bail
As part of the bail conditions, the accused must inform the court if they intend to travel outside the country.
The court, after reviewing arguments from both the prosecution and defense, expressed confidence that the accused would not commit further offenses while on bail.
It classified the charges as misdemeanors, which lowered the risk of flight.
The court noted that the defendants provided sufficient evidence of their availability for trial and commitment to cooperate with ongoing investigations.
Defense arguments
Lead defense counsel Justice Abdulai highlighted Bishop Amoako’s medical issues and described the couple as model parents who had engaged with local stakeholders prior to the police’s involvement.
Abdulai assured the court that the accused were not flight risks, emphasizing their stable residence and intention to cooperate with legal proceedings.
Prosecution’s concerns
Assistant State Attorney Mr. Yaw Acquah, while not opposing bail, cautioned the court about the potential misuse of resources by the accused if granted bail.
He urged the court to impose strict conditions to ensure the accused would attend court hearings and comply with all requirements.
Details of the accident
The accident occurred on October 12, 2024, during a celebration for Elyon Amoako’s 25th birthday.
Linda Bonsu Bempah allegedly handed the car keys of the Jaguar to Elrad, despite knowing he was underage and without a driver’s license.
Elrad, along with his friend, Prince Tijani, drove the vehicle toward Bawleshie.
At the Mensah Wood Avenue junction, the Jaguar collided with an Acura 4×4, resulting in both vehicles being thrown into a nearby wall.
The crash led to a fire that burned both cars beyond recognition.
Tragic loss of life
The two occupants of the Acura, Justine Agbenu and Maame Dwomoah Boateng, both aged 12, were trapped inside the vehicle and perished in the fire.
Elrad and two other injured occupants are currently receiving treatment at the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
Parental admission
During investigations, Bishop Amoako and his wife admitted to having previously allowed their son to drive within the neighborhood, including trips to the gym.
The case has been adjourned to October 30, 2024, for further proceedings.
