The Nsuta Circuit Court in the Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti Region has imposed a fine of Ghc2,400 on Azizu Charles, 40-year-old driver.
In default, he will serve one year imprisonment. The judge pronounced judgement after Charles pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving and causing harm.
The sentence was handed down on Tuesday, April 29, 2026, by the Presiding Judge, His Lordship Simon Nketia Gagah.
Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Detective Chief Inspector Kofi Owusu Kodua, told the court that the complainant, Isaac Ofori, aged 35, is also a driver and resides at Pankrono while the accused is a resident of Wiamoase.
According to the prosecution, on March 14, 2026, at about 2:00 p.m., the convict was driving a Toyota Hiace commercial bus with registration number AP 321-22, carrying 14 passengers from Kumasi to Wiamoase.
Upon reaching a section of the Kumasi-Mampong highway near Lins Pub at Kona, Azizu Charles, who was reportedly driving at a high speed and without due care and attention, veered from his lane into the opposite lane and collided head-on with an oncoming Nissan Caravan commercial bus with registration number GT 5663-17.
The Nissan Caravan was being driven by Isaac Ofori and was transporting 14 passengers from Agona to Kumasi.
The court heard that passengers aboard both vehicles sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to Zion Praise Hospital at Kona for medical treatment. While some victims were treated and discharged the same day, others were admitted for several days before being discharged.
Police investigations established that the convict drove recklessly and negligently, thereby causing harm to passengers in both vehicles.
The prosecution further disclosed that no compensation had been paid to the victims or to the owner of the damaged Nissan Caravan bus prior to the court proceedings.
However, since both vehicles were insured and had valid licences, the court directed the victims to seek compensation through the appropriate insurance processes.
By Benjamin Aidoo
