Second prosecution witness in Afoko's case ends testimony

Madam Zuweira Issaka, the Second Prosecution witness in the case involving Gregory Afoko of the murder of the former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party has ended her evidence in chief in the case.

Gregory Afoko, a farmer is alleged to have killed Mr Adams Mahama, the NPP Upper East Regional chairman.

    He is being held on the charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder and murder, he has pleaded not guilty before a seven-member jury at the court.

Giving her evidence Madam Issaka told the court that when the deceased Mr Adams Mahama was lying in his sick bed he told her and the first prosecution witness all that had happened to him in the Hausa language.

She said apart from the two of them with him at the hospital, the police came there to see his condition and later spoke with his wife, the first prosecution witness and took her back home, because they realised her husband was in a critical condition.

She said she later went home and about 0400 hours she had a call that Mr Adams had died, so she later informed a sister called sister Azumah, who accompanied her to the deceased house.

The witness told the court that when they went to the deceased house, she broke the news to the wife, the first prosecution witness that her husband had died and later gave her statement to the police.

During cross examination, she told the court that her daughter, aged 35 heard the loud noise outside their house, and accompanied her to the house of the deceased but did not go to the hospital with them.

When asked by the defence counsel, Mr Godfred Odame, whether he met the deceased moaning and in great pain, she said yes, but he did not talk to her nor anybody at the time Madam Issaka admitted that the deceased was sent to the hospital by a SSNIT driver who initially attempted to drive the vehicle of the deceased.

She said at the time, the engine of the car was still on but there was no one in the vehicle.

The car was parked in front of his gate not directly facing his house. The gallon, its lid and a cup were also lying beside the car by the driver’s door.

When asked whether she should identify the colour of the cup, she said she could not tell the colour but saw it beside the car.

The second prosecution witness added that the wife of the deceased was the one who collected the items from there and gave them to the police.

The case was later adjourned to June 1, for continuation of cross examination.

At the last sitting the witness started her evidence in Chief, but the case was adjourned for continuation today.

The prosecution intends to call 13 other witnesses, aside Hajia Adams and Madam Issaka to make their case.

It is alleged that Afoko carried out the act with one Alandgi Asake who is on the run.

A third accomplice, Musa Issa, was granted bail after the Attorney-General opined that there was not enough evidence to prosecute him.

GNA files indicate that on February 23, last year, an Accra District Court committed Afoko to stand trial at the High Court to answer to the charges against him.

The State indicated at committal proceedings before the Magistrate Court and tendered over 17 exhibits in respect of the trial.

The exhibits include Afoko’s caution and charge statements as well as a post mortem report of the deceased conducted on November 25, 2015, by Dr Lawrence Edusei; a medical report on the deceased wife who also sustained injuries in her bid to assist the deceased when the incident occurred.

Other exhibits are a gallon containing the alleged residue of acid found at the crime scene, a cup believed to have been used by the assailants in pouring the acid on to the deceased, the deceased’s pair of shoes and attire and a piece of carpet in the deceased car.

The rest were various reports from the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), a pair of blue-black track suit belonging to Afoko and photographs of the crime scene.

Prosecution is being led by Mr Amponsah, Chief State Attorney, who told the court that the deceased was a contractor who lived at Bolgatanga SSNIT Flats in the Upper East Region and also the NPP Regional Chairman.

According to Mr Amponsah, Afoko also lived in Bolgatanga and was the younger brother of Mr Paul Afoko, former National Chairman of the NPP.

     The State said the accused is also a party activist, and was close to the deceased.

On May 20, 2015, the deceased left his house to his construction site in his pick-up truck with registration number NR 761-14.

The Chief State Attorney said the deceased returned to the house in the night and at the entrance of his house, two men signaled him to roll down the window of his car.

The deceased obliged and the two men, however, poured acid on the deceased and fled on a motorbike.

Mr Amponsah said Mr Mahama shouted for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams went to his aid.

He said Mrs. Adams also sustained burns on her chest and breast in her bid to assist the victim.

According to Mr Amponsah, the deceased told the wife that it was Gregory and Asanke, who poured the acid on him.

The deceased also mentioned the two accused persons, in the presence of neighbours, as the people who poured the acid on him.

The Chief State Attorney said Mr Adams was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Bolgatanga Hospital where he passed on.

Mr Amponsah said the Police proceeded to the crime scene and collected a gallon containing the residue of the alleged acid, a cup and clothes of the assailant.

He said the passenger and driver’s seats were soaked with the acid and a pair of track suit used by the accused was also picked up.

The items retrieved were sent to the Ghana Standard Board.

Afoko was picked up at about 02:00 hours in his house and he led the Police to Asake’s house. Asake was, however, not available.

A postmortem conducted on the deceased by Dr Edusei indicates that Mr Adams died of extensive acid burns.

GNA