No Frafra Interpreter for Afoko

The hearing of the case involving Gregory Afoko over an alleged murder of the late Adams Mahama, former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalled at courts yesterday yesterday.

This was because of the unavailability of a Frafra interpreter to translate the evidence of the sixth witness who only speaks that language to the court.

Matthew Amponsah, a Chief State Attorney told the court that the court registrar had told him there was no Frafra interpreter to assist in the trial.

Although the witness was in court, the Judge, L. L. Mensah had no option than to adjourn hearing until tomorrow.

The judge said due to the nature of the case, he does not want to miss “a day doing nothing; we have to move forward”.

Osafo Boabeng, lawyer for the accused said it appears there was no Frafra interpreter in the Judicial Service, wondering where the Service would get an interpreter for the next sitting.

So far, the prosecution has presented five out of the 13 witnesses expected to be called in the trial.

At the last court date, Osafo Boabeng, ended his cross-examination of the fifth prosecution witness-Dominic Apaaya Baba who has since been discharged by the court.

The discharge of Dominic paved the way for the State to present its sixth witness in its quest to tighten its case against the accused.

The witness told the court that Gregory lied to the police when he said he was asleep at 20:00 hours on the day of the incident.

He said he, together with Afoko, Asabke and one Awafo, were at the Lovers Inn drinking spot and they left there at about 22:00 hours on the said day.

Dominic said when he went to the police station to give his statement he was told that Gregory had said upon his arrest that he was asleep as at 20:00 hours on May 20, 2015, but told the court that Gregory’s claim was false.

The witness further told the court that he known Afoko, and his accomplice, Asabka, now at large for the past 10 years in Bolgatanga as strong party activists, and he also knew the deceased (Adams Mahama), over the same period before he was elected as the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Regional Chairman.

Gegory has been charged with conspiracy to commit crime and murder of Adams Mahama in May 2015.

Meanwhile he has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Adams Mahama died of extensive acid burns and shock lungs (acute respiratory distress syndrome), an autopsy report has indicated.

Gregory’s alleged accomplice, Asabke, is still on the run.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson/ thePublisher