The Families of the Victims of Salifu Amoako’s Children Must Pursue Civil Action

It has been reported that the son of Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako, who caused an accident at East Legon, leading to loss of two lives, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment.  

The 16-year-old juvenile offender was sentenced by the Juvenile Court in Accra after he pleaded guilty to eight counts of manslaughter, negligently causing harm, dangerous driving and driving without licence.   

He is to serve his sentence at the Senior Correctional Home.  

Earlier on, he denied the charges but yesterday he changed his plea and was sentenced accordingly by the court presided over by Madam Bernice Mensimah Ackon.  

Ghana’s Juvenile Justice Act prescribes six months as the maximum sentence.   

The juvenile offender is to sign an undertaking not to drive until he is 18 years old. He will report to Probation Officers every Friday.  

His parents, namely Bishop Amoako and Mouha Amoako, were also sentenced to pay a fine of GHC6,000 each.  

The court also ordered the parents to pay for the damage caused to properties that were affected by the crush and they are to ensure proper upbringing of their son through an undertaking.  

The case stems from a tragic crash on October 12, 2024, which resulted in the death of two 12-year-old girls, Maame Dwomoh Boateng and Justine Agbenu. 

Even though the prescriptions handed down by the Juvenile Court may be backed by law, the Daily Searchlight is frankly sickened by the leniency of the sentence.

We believe that in this instance, the law took an overwhelming interest in the restitution and rehabilitation of Salifu Amoako’s whelp, without a commensurate interest in the harm caused to the victims, two of whom are dead, a state of permanency from which they will never have any escape.

We believe that with the state having failed to hand down a sentence that is sufficiently deterrent, the families of the victims have no option but to pursue action in Court for civil damages.

For a matter of such horrendous proportion to die with such a pitiful whimper, is too egregious to imagine. It is in this wise that we call on the families of the victims to seek the harshest possible civil remedy that is available.

(Editorial of the Daily Searchlight of 20th December 2024).