Gregory Afoko will be tried again after serving more than six years in prison for the murder of Alhaji Adams Mahama, the late Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Asabke Alangdi, the second defendant, was given a hanging death sentence.
This comes after the jury found Gregory Afoko not guilty of both the charge of murder and the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, 4-3.
Asabke Alangdi, the second defendant, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, according to the jury’s unanimous verdict.
When it came to the murder charge that the second accused person was facing, the jury returned a 4-3 not guilty verdict.
Background
On May 20, 2015, a substance believed to be acid was poured on Alhaji Adams Mahama in front of his home in Bolgatanga. This resulted in severe physical injuries.
At the Bolgatanga General Hospital, he later passed away as a result of his wounds.
After Alangdi allegedly fled Ghana, Afoko was the only person left in court.
The Attorney-General (AG) filed a nolle prosequi on January 28, 2019, to end the trial after more than three years of proceedings in response to Alangdi’s arrest.
Afoko appealed the nolle prosequi by bringing a case before the Supreme Court, but on June 19, 2019, the high court dismissed the appeal on the grounds that Afoko had not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the nolle prosequi was arbitrarily, unfairly, or capriciously made.
Prosecution’s facts
According to the case’s facts, Gregory’s brother, Mr. Paul Afoko, and Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, who were the NPP’s National Chairman and General Secretary at the time, respectively, arrived in Bolgatanga on May 14, 2015, for a meeting.
The two were to meet at the Azumsolon Guest House, but Adams Mahama, according to the prosecution, organized some thugs to attack them violently. They were charged with campaigning against the flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and failing to inform him (Mahama) of the meeting.
The prosecution claims that the police later brought the situation under control. They also claim that Gregory, who was then upset, confronted Mahama but was repelled by some thugs.
Another group
According to the facts, Gregory and Asabke Alangdi founded a different youth organization in an effort to defend those who they believed to be opposed to Nana Akufo-Addo.
According to the report, Gregory and Alangdi met with the youth in a series of meetings before setting up a surprise ambush at Mahama’s home on May 20, 2015. They allegedly used an acid-like substance as ammo.
“Mahama returned home around 11:10 p.m. in his pick-up vehicle, with registration number NR 761-14, and immediately he parked in front of his house, Gregory and Asabke went close and signalled him to roll down the glass.
“Mahama identified the suspects to be party members and rolled down the glass to talk to them. Suddenly, the suspects poured the substance, suspected to be acid, on his head, face and other parts of his body and fled on a motorbike.
“Mahama started screaming for help, and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams, went to his aid and managed to bring him out of the vehicle,” the prosecution said.
