One person died, while two others sustained various degrees of injury, when a car ran into some members of Bishop Daniel Bonegas’a Great Fire Pentecostal Church at Ayigbe Town, near Weija, on the Kasoa-Mallam road.
The deceased has been identified as Alice Doku, 58, while the two who sustained injuries are Albert Coffie, 55, and Georgina Antwi, 38.
While Doku was pronounced dead on arrival at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where the three persons were taken to for medical attention, Antwi had her right leg amputated, while Coffie was admitted.
Driver owed by Bonegas
Sources told the Daily Graphic that the driver of the vehicle, Emmanuel Amarteyfio, had gone to the church to collect money allegedly owed him by the Founder of the church, Bishop Daniel Bonegas.
The church usually transports worshippers from various destinations to the premises of the church, which is on a hill close to the Kasoa toll both, with its branded buses.
The sources said members of the church were going to board one of the buses when the accident occurred.
The driver of the Renault private car, with registration number GX1985-15, is said to have told the police that he was the one who sold the land on which the church was built to Bishop Bonegas.
According to the police, Amarteyfio claimed the total cost of the land had still not been paid up and he had been following up on it until he received a call from Bishop Bonegas that fateful Friday to come over to the church premises for the rest of the money.
Distress call
According to Amarteyfio, he decided to wait in his car when he got to the church premises, as the consultation service was ongoing.
While he was waiting, he said he received a distress call from a friend to meet him immediately at the Weija Junction.
The police said Amarteyfio said he then called Bishop Bonegas to inform him that he was meeting a friend at the Weija Junction and that he would be back, but when he started the car, the engine started making some unpleasant noise.
He said when he moved, he lost control of the steering and ran into some of the church members who were then leaving the church for their various homes.
Eyewitnesses said the three victims were dragged by the Renault car to a distance before crushing them against a bus belonging to the church which was parked in front of the premises.
When contacted, the Weija District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police Mr Shaibu Osei, confirmed the incident and said Amarteyfio had since been put before a motor court and granted bail in the sum of GH¢14,000, with three sureties, one to be justified.
The court adjourned the case to September 15, 2016.
