Afoko trial: Prosecution to call 19 witnesses

The Prosecution in the case involving Gregory Afoko and Asabke Alangde, accused for the allegedly murdering the former Upper East NPP Regional chairman has told the court that it would call 19 witnesses.

Prosecuting, Ms Marina Appiah Oppong, a Chief State Attorney, on Wednesday morning told the Accra High Court hearing the case that they intend to call 19 witness as well as tender a number of exhibits as evidence.

“We would show through our witnesses that Mr Adams Mahama is dead and he died from unlawful harm.”

Meanwhile, the two accused persons, Afoko and Alangde have both pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

They have both been remanded into the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations, and the matter adjourned to July 26.

The facts of the case as read by prosecution, Ms Appiah Oppong, was that, Afoko is a farmer while Asabke is a butcher, both residents of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

He said Afoko is the younger brother of Mr Paul Afoko, former Chairman of the NPP whilst Alangdi was a member of the youth wing of the party.

He said both accused persons were known to Adams, the deceased, thus, on May 20, 2015, at about 2300hours, the deceased in his car had arrived from his construction site in front of his house when the two men approached him and signaled him to roll down his car window.

She said immediately he did so, the two poured some acid on him which made him scream from the burning sensation to attract his wife’s attention, after which the two bolted.

She said Adams sustained burns on the head, face and body whereas the wife who assisted him out of the car also had burns on the breasts and chest.

The prosecution said the wife asked who had done this to him and he mentioned Afoko and Alangdi.

She said Adam’s wife then called for help which attracted sympathizers, who conveyed the victim to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, where he died the next day at the Intensive Care Unit.

Ms Appiah Oppong said the matter was referred to the police and a plastic cup, a gallon of some acid, as well as clothes belonging to the deceased, were collected for investigations. The car seat was also soaked with some of the liquid.

She said a tracksuit and other items believed to be for the accused persons’ were also taken at the scene by the police.

She said they were sent to the Ghana Standards Authority for examination and it confirmed the liquid was acid.

The Prosecution said based on this information, Afoko was arrested who then led the Police to Alangdi’s house but he had escaped.

He said on May 15, 2015, a Pathologist Dr Lawrence Adusei’s autopsy report indicated that Adams suffered shock and extensive acid burns.

Afoko was standing trial until Alangdi was arrested on January 25 at Cote D'Ivoire with the help of the Interpol and handed over to Ghana.

Ms Appiah Oppong said the trial of Afoko had been discontinued as nolle prosecui had been entered by the Attorney-General