Pastor Granted GH¢100,000 Bail Over Careless Driving in Ashanti Region

A 55-year-old pastor has been granted GH¢100,000 bail by the Nkawie Circuit Court in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region, after admitting to a charge of careless and inconsiderate driving that left seven passengers injured in a head-on collision.

Francis Owusu, the leader and founder of Christ Upper Room Church at Kronom-Afrancho in the Suame Municipality, pleaded guilty to the careless driving charge but entered a not-guilty plea to a separate count of causing harm. He is scheduled to reappear before the court on 27 July 2026.

The Incident

According to prosecution evidence presented by Police Inspector Kwaku Frimpong, the collision occurred on 21 April 2026 at approximately 10:00 p.m. Owusu was driving a Nissan Amanda vehicle with registration number AS 5615-16 from Anyinamso to Atwima-Mim when, at a section of the road near the Afari township, he veered off his lane without due care and collided head-on with an oncoming bus.

The bus, registered as AS 4854-19, was carrying 14 passengers at the time of the collision. Seven of those passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to the Afari Community Hospital. Two of the injured, who suffered more serious wounds, were subsequently referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi for further treatment.

Legal Proceedings

Following the incident, a report was filed with the Nkawie Police, and Owusu was arrested. In his caution statement, he admitted to the offences. After further investigations, he was charged and brought before the court presided over by Mr Robert Addo.

The court granted bail of GH¢100,000 with one surety. The case has been adjourned to allow for the continuation of proceedings on the causing harm charge, to which the accused has pleaded not guilty.

Context

Road safety remains a pressing concern across Ghana, particularly on intercity routes where poor lighting, narrow carriageways, and inadequate road markings contribute to frequent accidents. The Ashanti Region, with its dense network of connecting roads between smaller towns and the regional capital Kumasi, has been a recurring hotspot for traffic collisions.

The case also raises questions about accountability when drivers in positions of community trust are involved in incidents that endanger public safety. The pastor’s guilty plea on the careless driving charge suggests acceptance of responsibility for the collision, though the not-guilty plea on causing harm indicates a contested determination of legal culpability for the injuries sustained by passengers.

The matter will return to court next month as the judiciary continues its assessment of the case.

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