The Ghana Police Service has dismissed allegations that the 16-year-old son of Bishop Elisha Salifu Amoako, Founder and General Overseer of Alive Chapel International Church, is currently not at the Osu Correctional Centre, despite a court directive following a tragic road crash in East Legon that claimed the lives of two 12-year-olds.

According to the police, the suspect has been at the correctional centre since his remand by the Family and Juvenile Court in Accra on Friday, November 1, 2024, contradicting claims circulating on social media.

The police clarified that assertions stating the 16-year-old is no longer at the facility are false and constitute the offence of publication of false news, in violation of Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Additionally, they announced an investigation into the social media accounts disseminating this misinformation, stating that they would take action against those responsible.

“The Police have identified two social media accounts in connection with the false publication: a TikTok user with the handle ‘prisywanlov1’ and a Facebook user under the name ‘EmpressPapa A-Amigos.’ Investigations are underway to establish the identities of the individuals behind these accounts so they can face justice.

“We find it deeply unfortunate that a tragic incident resulting in the loss of two young lives is being exploited by certain individuals in an unGhanaian manner to draw attention to themselves. We urge the public to refrain from such actions and allow the families to grieve in peace,” part of a statement issued by the police on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, reads.

Background:

A social media user, claiming to be a veteran social worker, has raised allegations against the Ghana Police Service, asserting that Elrad Salifu Amoako, the 16-year-old involved in the recent East Legon accident that claimed two lives, is not being held at the correctional centre as reported by the police.

In a Facebook post, the user, known as EmpressPapa A-Amigos, claimed that Elrad Amoako was not brought to the correctional facility after his remand by the juvenile court. This post has sparked concerns about the boy’s whereabouts.

The account holder stated that he has worked as a state-trained social worker since 1990 at the Boys Remand Home, the designated lawful custody center for juvenile offenders in Accra. According to the post, he checked the center on the day of Amoako’s remand, and no new juveniles, including Amoako, were reportedly received.

“Ghana Police Service, come clear on this. I am a state-trained social worker since 1989. I started working at the Boys Remand Home in 1990; it is the only lawful child custody center in Accra. Children are only committed to correctional centers when the Juvenile Court takes a decision on the case. For now, it is supposed to be the Boys Remand Home where he should be kept by law."

The user further claimed, “When I worked there, we kept children on murder charges and I handled them. So, which Remand Home is Salifu's son? The doors of the Remand Home were open when I checked today. No boy has been received.”

These comments come after a police update on the tragic East Legon accident.

The police stated that Elrad Salifu Amoako was remanded by the Accra Juvenile and Family Court on November 1, 2024, facing eight charges, including manslaughter, and is expected to reappear in court on November 7, 2024.

Read the full statement below:

POLICE REFUTE CLAIMS THAT SUSPECT DRIVER ELRAD SALIFU AMOAKO IS NOT AT THE OSU CORRECTIONAL CENTRE

The Ghana Police Service would like to refute claims circulating on social media suggesting that the 16-year-old suspect driver, Elrad Salifu Amoako, is currently not at the Osu correctional centre as directed by the Court.

Following the Court’s order on 1st November 2024, suspect Elrad Salifu Amoako was taken to the Osu Correctional Centre, where he remains as of this morning.

We, therefore, wish to state that this claim is false and constitutes the offence of Publication of false news, contrary to section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

The Police have so far identified two social media accounts; a TikTok user with the handle “prisywanlov1” and a Facebook user with the handle “EmpressPapa A-Amigos,” in connection with the false publication, and investigations are underway to establish the individuals behind these accounts for them to face justice.

We find it deeply unfortunate that a tragic incident resulting in the loss of two beautiful souls is being exploited by some individuals in an unGhanaian manner to draw attention to themselves. We urge the public to refrain from such actions and allow the families to grieve in peace.

BAI/OGB

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