Founder and General Overseer of the Alive Chapel International Church, Prophet Elisha Salifu Amoako, and two others have been rearrested by the Police moments after they were discharged by the Circuit Court in Accra.
On Monday, February 17, the Attorney General (AG), through Yaw Acquah, a State Attorney, informed the Circuit Court of the directive from the AG to withdraw the charge sheet to allow for further investigations.
According to him, the outcome of the further investigations will determine the direction of the matter.
Bishop Salifu Amoako, together with his wife Mouha Amoako, a banker, and one Linda Bonsu Prempeh, a Sales Assistant, were charged for “permitting an unlicensed person to drive.”
They pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail by the Circuit Court in Accra in the sum of GHc50,000 with two sureties each without justification.
In Court on Monday, the State Attorney said, “About the study of the document, it has been deemed necessary to allow the police to conduct further investigations to determine the direction the prosecution should take.
“As such we are before you this morning to withdraw the charge sheet against the three accused persons,” the State Attorney told the Court presided over by His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah.
Defence lawyers indicated that they do not oppose to that request to have the charges withdrawn, saying “if prosecution wishes to withdraw charges preferred against the accused persons, we have no objections.”
His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, the presiding judge, prior to discharging them said if the AG who initiated the action sought to withdraw, the Court will grant them as the defence did not object.
“If the Attorney General that brought the case is now praying for the withdrawal of the case, and the counsel of the accused persons are in support of the withdrawal the court has nothing to say.
“The prayer for the Attorney General is granted and matter struck out as withdrawn. The accused persons are discharged,” Mr Bright Acquah stated.
EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah who was at the Court reports that Bishop Salifu Amoako, his wife and Linda Bonsu Bempah were immediately rearrested when they stepped out of the Courtroom. It was not immediately clear whether fresh charges would be preferred against them.
Brief facts
Per the brief facts of the case as presented to the Court by the prosecution, the first accused person, Elisha Salifu Amoako, is a Reverend Minister and the father of a 16-year-old (name withheld).
While Mouha Amoako is a Banker and the mother of the 16-year-old.
The third accused, Linda Bonsu Bempah, is a sales assistant at Lilo Stitches, owned by the elder brother of the 16-year-old.
It is the case of the Prosecution that, the 16 years lives with his mother in Accra.
It said, on October 12, 2024, while celebrating the 25th birthday of his elder brother, Bonsu Prempeh (A3) gave the key to Mouha Amoako’s Jaguar F- Pace Sport SUV vehicle with registration number GN 7801-20 to the 16-year-old “knowing very well that he was a minor and did not have a driver’s licence.”
The 16-year-old “then drove the said vehicle with his friend Prince Tijani heading towards the Bawaleshie direction on the Dzanie Ashie street.”
“On reaching a section of the road at Mensa Wood Avenue junction, he (16-year-old) drove into the rear of an Acura 4×4 vehicle with registration number GR2542-23.
“The impact propelled both vehicles across the road into a fence wall of a nearby house. Both vehicles caught fire and got burnt beyond recognition.
“Two occupants of the Acura namely, Justine Agbenu and Maame Dwomoh Boateng – both 12 years of age – were trapped and the vehicle and died in the fire.
The 16-year-old and “two of the injured occupants are currently on admission at the University of Ghana Medical Center.
Prophet Amoako and Mouha Amoako “admitted during investigations that they allow their son to drive to the gym, within their neighbourhood and to other places,” the Prosecution stated.
