Gregory Afoko pushes for bail again after nine years on remand

After nearly a decade in detention, Gregory Afoko has once again applied for bail as he continues to battle accusations linking him to the 2015 murder of Adams Mahama, the former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

This latest bail application, filed on Monday, February 17, 2025, by his legal team, will be considered by Justice Marie-Louise Simmons on February 21. Meanwhile, the trial was postponed until March 5 due to complications in jury selection.

Legal Proceedings

Afoko, charged alongside Asabke Alangdi, is accused of conspiring in the attack that led to Mahama’s death. Alangdi, already convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, maintains his innocence on the primary charge of murder. Both men are being tried together, with a jury panel consisting of four women and three men.

A previous ruling in April 2024, delivered by Justice Merley Afua Wood, found Alangdi guilty of conspiring to commit murder, leading to a mandatory death sentence. However, the jury’s 4-3 split decision cleared Afoko of the conspiracy and murder charges. Alangdi has since appealed his conviction.

The Case Background

The case dates back to May 14, 2015, when tensions within the NPP escalated. On that day, the party’s then-national Chairman, Paul Afoko, and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong, visited Bolgatanga for a political engagement. Their arrival sparked unrest, with Mahama reportedly mobilizing a group to disrupt their meeting at the Azumsolon Guest House. The confrontation was eventually diffused by law enforcement.

According to prosecutors, the incident left Gregory Afoko agitated. He allegedly confronted Mahama but was driven away by a group of supporters.

Authorities claim that in response, Afoko and Alangdi gathered like-minded individuals to form a faction to counter opponents within the party. Allegedly, this group orchestrated an ambush outside Mahama’s residence on May 20, 2015.

The Alleged Attack

Prosecution reports state that Mahama arrived home around 11:10 PM in his pickup truck (NR 761-14). As he parked, two individuals approached, prompting him to roll down his window, believing them to be fellow party members. At that moment, they allegedly doused him with a corrosive liquid, believed to be acid, before fleeing on a motorcycle.

Mahama’s screams alerted his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams, who rushed to his aid, suffering burns herself in the process. Before succumbing to his injuries en route to Accra for medical treatment, Mahama reportedly identified Afoko and Alangdi as his attackers.

Investigation and Arrest

Authorities later arrested Afoko, who reportedly directed them to Alangdi’s father’s home. However, by the time police reached Alangdi’s residence, he had already fled with his wife, leaving behind their baby.

A post-mortem report confirmed that Mahama died from severe acid burns and respiratory failure due to shock.

Afoko, maintaining his innocence, continues to seek bail as the legal battle drags on.