Court discharges Afoko and Asabke in Adams Mahama murder case

The Accra High Court has discharged Gregory Afoko and Asabke Alangde, the two men accused of murdering the late Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Adams Mahama.

The court, presided over by Justice Marie-Louise Simmons, on Monday, December 1, 2025, discharged the accused persons after the case had suffered more than six adjournments without any progress, largely due to the absence of the prosecution.

The judge also dissolved the jury after only five of the seven members were present.

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Afoko and Alangde had been standing trial for their alleged roles in the fatal acid attack on Adams Mahama on May 20, 2015.

Adams Mahama died from severe acid burns while being airlifted to Accra for treatment. His wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams, also sustained burns while attempting to help him.

On February 21, 2025, the same court granted Afoko bail in the sum of GH₵500,000 with two sureties after nearly a decade on remand. The prosecution did not oppose the bail application.

According to the brief facts presented by the prosecution, the attack followed internal tensions within the NPP.

On May 14, 2015, then national Chairman Paul Afoko, brother of Gregory Afoko; and then General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong travelled to Bolgatanga for a meeting, which was disrupted by a group of youth allegedly mobilised by Mahama.

Police later restored order, but the prosecution said Gregory Afoko, angered by the incident, confronted Mahama and was chased away.

The prosecution further alleged that Afoko and Alangde subsequently formed another youth group to protect party members perceived to be against then flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

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On the night of May 20, 2015, they were said to have laid ambush at Mahama’s residence and poured a substance suspected to be acid on him after signalling him to roll down his vehicle window.

Mahama reportedly mentioned the names of his attackers to his wife before he died.

Afoko was later arrested and led the police to the home of Alangde’s father. By then, Alangde had fled with his wife, leaving behind their baby, but was later arrested.

A post-mortem report indicated that Mahama died from shocked lungs and extensive acid burns.

MRA/AE

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