GhanaWeb Feature by Isaac Dadzie

In mid-October 2024, the nation was left in shock after images of a horrific vehicle accident in East Legon surfaced on social media.

As more details emerged, it became clear that the victims were two 12-year-old girls, and CCTV footage showed a Jaguar colliding with the vehicle they were in.

The driver, a 16-year-old, was the son of Bishop Salifu Amoako, a prominent religious leader in Ghana.

The incident sparked widespread panic, leading to discussions about parenting, driving laws, and road safety management.

Subsequently, Ghanaians were eager to hear the Archbishop’s response. Then, a tearful apology from him was sighted online, backed with mixed reviews.

But on October 20, 2024, the situation escalated when comments he made belittling the incident ignited further controversy.

Salifu Amoako called for an end to the commentary surrounding his son’s accident, claiming that “all Ghanaians do is talk.”

He argued that the outrage was fueled by his name, suggesting the incident would have been overlooked if it involved less prominent individuals.

“It was an accident. My son did not carry a gun to kill anybody. He was involved in a terrible accident, and I am not the one who did it, nor his mother. It’s my name; that’s why people are talking,” he stated.

This incident bore an unsettling resemblance to another fatal accident involving a high-profile figure.

On May 25, 2024, Kumawood actor Kwadwo Nkansah, widely known as LilWin, was involved in a car accident in Kumasi.

LilWin, along with his road manager and bodyguard, sustained minor injuries, but a 2-year-old boy from the other vehicle tragically lost his life.

As expected, social media was abuzz with speculation and commentary, but the responses from LilWin’s camp were different.

Wezzy Empire, LilWin’s management team, acknowledged the accident and the victims but urged an end to the speculation.

"While we are saddened and traumatised, we find the allegations of neglect on our part, as speculated by some commentators, very distasteful and disturbing at this troubling time. We want to state categorically that we were unclear about the extent of damage from the accident because our artist, manager, and bodyguard suffered life-threatening injuries," the statement read.

What went wrong?

Both parties failed to acknowledge their roles in the tragic occurrence.

While they were indeed accidents, it was clear that Salifu Amoako’s son, Elrad, was speeding, just as was LilWin was.

Yet, responses from both camps did not accept any blame.

Instead, they appeared more concerned about the public’s perception, their own well-being and the impact of the incident on their brand.

The aftermath

The initial statement from LilWin’s management, Wezzy Empire, faced backlash, prompting them to issue a retraction, an apology, and an acknowledgment of the incident's impact on the victims' families.

In the case of Salifu Amoako, he is yet to address the criticism regarding his recent ‘distasteful’ statements.

Conclusion

Ultimately, these responses serve as a lesson on how public figures should handle such tragedies.

In times like this, their focus should be on the victims and the negative effects of these incidents.

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