Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako and two others have been granted GHC50,000 bail each in relation to the East Legon accident that resulted in two fatalities.
Bishop Amoako and his wife, Mouha, were arrested on Monday following the incident involving their 16-year-old son, who is reported to have caused the accident.
Bishop Amoako, his wife Mouha, and Linda Bonsu Bempah, a sales assistant, appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday, facing charges related to allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle.
The charges stem from an incident where their 16-year-old son, Elrad Salifu, allegedly drove a white Jaguar F-Pace Sport without a valid license, resulting in a collision with an Acura utility vehicle that caught fire, tragically leading to the deaths of two individuals.
All three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, granted GHC 50,000 bail each to the trio, with two sureties.
The court emphasised that the accused must notify it if they planned to travel outside the country.
After considering arguments from both the prosecution and defense, the court expressed confidence that the accused would not commit further offenses while on bail.
The court noted that the accused presented sufficient evidence demonstrating their availability for trial and their commitment not to interfere with ongoing investigations.
It classified the charges against them as misdemeanours, indicating that there was little reason for them to flee.
Their legal team successfully argued for bail, highlighting their non-flight risk status.
In the case of Salifu Amoako, lead defense counsel Justice Abdulai highlighted the serious medical issues facing his client, arguing that the situation should be considered in the bail decision.
He described Bishop Amoako and his wife as model parents who had earlier engaged with local stakeholders before the police intervened.
Abdulai assured the court that the accused would not flee, citing their stable residence.
On the prosecution’s side, Assistant State Attorney Mr. Yaw Acquah did not oppose bail but cautioned the court about the potential for the accused to misuse their resources if granted bail.
The prosecution urged the court to impose bail terms that would ensure the accused compliance with court appearances.
The prosecution said that Bishop Amoako and his wife, Mouha, are the parents of Elrad Amoako, the 16-year-old minor involved in the incident, who resides with his mother in Accra.
Their concerns focused on ensuring that the accused would be accountable and to minimize the risk of them absconding while awaiting trial.
On October 12, 2024, during the celebration of his elder brother Elyon Amoako’s 25th birthday, Linda, the third accused, handed the key of Mouha’s Jaguar F-Pace Sports SUV with registration number GN 7801-20 to Elrad Amoako, fully aware that he was a minor without a driver’s license.
The prosecution said Elrad then drove the vehicle with his friend Prince Tijani toward Bawleshie on Dzanie Ashie Street.
As they approached a section of the road at the Mensah Wood Avenue junction, Elrad collided with the rear of an Acura 4×4 vehicle with registration number GR 2542-23.
The court was informed that the collision caused both vehicles to be propelled across the road into the wall of a nearby house.
Following the impact, both vehicles caught fire and were burned beyond recognition.
The prosecution stated that two occupants of the Acura, Justine Agbenu and Maame Dwomoah Boateng, both aged 12, were trapped inside and tragically perished in the blaze.
Elrad Amoako and two other injured occupants are currently receiving treatment at the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
The prosecution stated that Bishop Amoako and his wife admitted during investigations that they had permitted their son to drive to the gym and other locations within their neighborhood.
The case has been adjourned to October 30, 2024.
GNA