Acid found on Gregory Afoko

• Posted on July 30, 2015July 30, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

It has emerged that the dress of Gregory Afoko, one of the two persons standing trial over the murder of Adams Mahama, Upper East regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which was retrieved by the police, contained acid.

According to the Attorney General (AG), other materials such as the gallon containing the sulphuric acid, the burnt clothing of the deceased, substances retrieved from his vehicle, all contained the same sulphuric acid.

This was contained in a 28-paragraph affidavit in opposition to the application for bail filed at the court by lawyers for Gregory.

It said the “clothing of the applicant (Gregory) which was retrieved and sent for forensic examination, disclosed that the clothing was laced with sulphuric acid.”

The affidavit, filed at the Accra Human Rights Court on July 28, 2015, further disclosed that the final report on the wound on Gregory’s leg was yet to be released.

Gregory and Musah, are before the Accra Central Magistrate Court for allegedly intentionally and unlawfully causing the death of Adams on May 20, 2015 at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

According to the police, Musah, who is a member of the NPP, on 19 May, 2015, solicited and procured the deadly acid which he gave to other two suspects who in turn poured the acid on Adams.

Asabke Alangdi, the third accused has been on the run together with his wife, leaving behind their one-and-a-half-year-old baby.

Gregory is facing charges of conspiracy and murder.

The plea of the two has not been taken.

Musah, a driver who is being tried for abetment of crime in respect of the case, was recently admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 with four sureties.

The court had refused the bail of Gregory but his lawyers went to the human rights court to fight for it.

In a court presided over by Justice Kofi Essel Mensah, lead counsel for the 53-year-old farmer and brother of Paul Afoko – NPP national chairman – Ekow Ampah Korsah said yesterday that he had not been officially served with the affidavit in opposition.

He however, added that Mathew Amponsah, a senior state attorney who was representing the AG in the case, had been “generous enough” to give him a copy of the affidavit at the court.

In view of that Mr. Korsah said he was yet to read it and respond accordingly and prayed the court to grant an adjournment.

Mr. Amponsah said the AG was only served with the motion two days before.

Justice Essel Mensah adjourned hearing until August 6, 2015 for the motion for bail to be moved by the defence counsel

According to the police charge sheet, Gregory Afoko, after his arrest, was asked to lead the police to the house of his accomplice – Asabke Alangdi – but “he rather took them to the father’s house. Police later located the house of the second accused but the suspect had got wind of their presence and absconded with his wife, leaving behind their baby.”

“A gallon, which contains some of the substance and a plastic cup, were retrieved at the scene for forensic examination,” the charge sheet added.

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson