The 16-year-old son of Archbishop Elisha Salifu Amoako has been hauled before a Juvenile Court in Accra over the fatal accident which resulted in the death of two 12-year-old girls at East Legon, on October 12, 2024.
The minor has been charged with a total of eight charges – two counts of manslaughter, three counts of negligently causing harm, two counts of dangerous driving and another count of dangerous driving without a valid licence.
Court documents indicate that despite his age and his lack of a valid driver’s licence, his family members regularly gave him access to cars that they own and permitted him to drive.
They also point out that the minor had been driving in a manner that fell way below what is expected of any competent and careful driver, and in such a reckless manner that it endangered the lives of both vehicles and pedestrians along the road.
The court remanded him into custody to reappear on November 7, 2024 for further proceedings.
His parents have already appeared before court charged with permitting an unlicensed person to drive.
A court document indicated that on October 12, 2024, the family threw a birthday party for Elyon Amoako, the elder brother of the accused at an event centre in East Legon, Accra.
It states that while the party went on, the accused person asked Linda Bonsu Bempah, a personal assistant to Elyon, to give him the keys to his mother’s Jaguar F-Pace Sport, which she did.
The prosecution’s brief facts indicate that the minor took the car and drove with one of his friends to the A&C Mall where they met some more friends who were waiting in two SVs.
“The three cars formed a convoy, led by the accused person in his mother’s car, and drove through the East Legon area,” the documents read.
Courts document further pointed out that at a section of the Dzane-Ashie Road and despite the presence of other vehicles on the road, the accused person decided to show off the speed of the Jaguar F-Pace Sport.
It said he was at top speed and in no time had approached a T-junction at the Mensah Wood Avenue recklessly with no regard for the other road users.
The accused then rammed the Jaguar into an Acura SUV driven by Joseph Ackah, who had slowed down to navigate a turn.
The impact of the collision threw both vehicles off the street, ramming them into the wall of a house opposite the junction, destroying an ECG pole in the process.
“Both cars immediately caught fire, which turned into a raging inferno in no time. The accused person managed to force himself out of the vehicle he was driving, his passenger too,” the document indicated.
It further stated that Joseph Ackah had been driving his boss’ two daughters – one of them a toddler – and their friends, Maame Dwomoh Boateng and Justine Agbenu who were both 12.
The toddler was saved by volunteers as the driver managed to force himself out of the burning vehicle.
The two 12-year-olds were trapped and bystanders tried but could not rescue them, as they burned beyond recognition.
