Accra, March 13, – An Accra High
Court hearing the case involving Gregory Afoko, accused of murdering the former
Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Tuesday
adjourned the hearing to March 15.
When the case was called the
judge was compelled to adjourn because the seven member jury were not set with
one juror absent due to ill health.
The six prosecution witness,
Awafo Akelesiya, expressed worry about the way the case was proceeding due the
cost involved in travelling to and from Bolgatanga where he resides.
The court however apologized to
him, saying it was also not happy with the situation, and assured him that
things would normalise.
At the last sitting, the case was
adjourned for continuation.
The Prosecution intends to call
10 other witnesses, in addition to Hajia Adams, Madam Issaka, Quinn, Taufic and
Dominic.
Afoko, a farmer, is alleged to
have killed Mr Mahama on May 20, 2015, and he is being held on the charges of
conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder and murder.
He has pleaded not guilty before
the Court, which is also composed of a seven-member jury.
It was alleged that Afoko carried
out the act with Alandgi Asabke, who is on the run.
A third accomplice, Musa Issa,
was granted bail after the Attorney-General opined that there was not enough
evidence to prosecute him.
On February 23, 2016, an Accra
District Court committed Afoko to stand trial at the High Court to answer to
the charges against him.
The State at the committal
proceedings tendered more than 17 exhibits in respect of the trial.
The exhibits include Afoko’s
caution and charge statements as well as a post-mortem report on the deceased,
conducted by Dr Lawrence Edusei; a medical report on the deceased’s wife, who
also sustained injuries in her bid to assist her husband when the incident
occurred.
Other exhibits are a gallon
containing the alleged residue of acid found at the crime scene, a cup believed
to have been used by the assailants in pouring the acid on the deceased, the
deceased’s pair of shoes and attire, and a piece of carpet from the deceased’s
car.
The rest were various reports
from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), a pair of blue-black tracksuit
belonging to Afoko and photographs of the crime scene.
The Prosecution is being led by
Mr Nicolas Amponsah, Chief State Attorney, who told the Court that Mr Adams was
a contractor and lived at the Bolgatanga SSNIT Flats in the Upper East Region
and was also the NPP Regional Chairman.
According to Mr Amponsah, Afoko
also lived in Bolgatanga and was the younger brother of Mr Paul Afoko, a former
National Chairman of the NPP.
The State said the accused was
also a party activist, and was close to Mr Adams.
On May 20, 2015, Mr Adams left
his house to his construction site in his pick-up truck with registration
number NR 761-14.
The Chief State Attorney said he
returned to the house in the night and at the entrance of his house, two men
signalled him to roll down the window of his car.
He obliged. However, the two men
poured acid on him and fled on a motorbike.
Mr Amponsah said Mr Mahama
shouted for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams went to his aid.
He said Mrs. Adams also sustained
burns on her chest and breast in her bid to assist the victim.
According to Mr Amponsah, Adams
told his wife that it was Gregory and Asabke, who poured the acid on him.
He also mentioned the two accused
persons, in the presence of neighbours, as those who poured the acid on him.
The Chief State Attorney said Mr
Adams was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Bolgatanga Hospital, but he
passed on.
Afoko was picked up at about 0200
hours in his house and he led the Police to Asabke’s house. Asabke was,
however, not available.
A post mortem conducted on the
deceased by Dr Edusei indicated that Adams died of extensive acid burns.
GNA
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