Court sends Afoko back to Prison despite ailment

An Accra High court, in a U-turn, has cancelled the bail granted to Gregory Afoko, a suspect being tried for the murder of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Upper East regional chairman, Adams Mahama, in 2015.

On March 14, 2019, another Accra High Court, presided over by Justice George Buadi, admitted Afoko to bail in the sum of GhȻ500,000 with two sureties, one of whom must to be justified.

That was after his lawyers had argued that their client deserved to be granted bail because the state was not ready to prosecute him.

The lawyers based their argument on a nolle prosequi filed by the Attorney-General on January 28, 2019 to discontinue Afoko’s trial after more than three years of trial.

The A-G filed the nolle prosequi after the arrest of Asabke Alangdi, the other person alleged to have conspired with Afoko to allegedly commit the murder.

Bail revoked

However, at a hearing on Monday, another High Court, Marina Appiah Opare, Chief State Attorney in her submission indicated that the State has cause to be concerned that should the accused person’s bail be allowed to hold, he is likely not to make himself available for the trial.

Lawyer for Gregory Afoko, Sowah Charway, in his opposition to the the oral application of the State said the style adopted by the State can best be described as ambush litigation. He added that his client will at all times make himself available for trial while he is on bail.

The Presiding Judge after the arguments ruled that based on the facts presented in the oral application of the State, the bail is rescinded. She further ruled that the court will ensure a speedy trial of the case in order to avert any further delays. The parties will return to Court on Wednesday the 17th of July 2019. It is expected that the Court will take the plea of the two accused persons and also empanel a seven member jury for the trial to commenced.

Background

Alhaji Mahama suffered severe bodily injuries after a substance suspected to be acid was allegedly poured on him in front of his house in Bolgatanga on May 20, 2015. He later died from the injuries at the Bolgatanga General Hospital.

Afoko’s trial started in 2016 and was nearing completion after the prosecution and the defence had closed their cases.

On January 26, 2019, Afoko closed his case after he and his brother, John Ishmael Afoko, had testified.

The prosecution, led by a Chief State Attorney, Matthew Amponsah, had called 14 individuals as prosecution witnesses.

Subsequently, the presiding judge, Justice Lawrence Mensah, directed the two parties to file their written addresses.