Gregory Afoko, a farmer accused of murdering Adams Mahama, the former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has filed a fresh bail application after nearly a decade on remand.

This follows previous bail applications that were denied, with the court ruling that there had been no unreasonable delay in his retrial.

Afoko and his co-defendant, Asabke, who was earlier convicted and sentenced to death for conspiracy, are currently facing a retrial for murder.

The two have had their pleas retaken, and the fifth prosecution witness has already been discharged, with the sixth expected to appear before the court, presided over by Justice Marie-Louise Simmons.

They are alleged to have poured acid on Adams Mahama, leading to his death on May 20, 2015.

Afoko’s previous trial ended in a hung jury, with a 4-3 not guilty verdict in his favor on April 27, 2023.

The court has since ordered a retrial, which is currently underway.

On Monday, February 17, 2025, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons adjourned the case to March 5, 2025, due to an improperly constituted jury panel.

Afoko’s bail application, filed on February 17, 2025, is scheduled to be heard on February 21, 2025.

EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reports that this is Afoko’s third bail application, following previous denials in June and October 2023.

Brief Facts

According to court documents, on May 14, 2015, Gregory’s brother, Paul Afoko, and Kwabena Agyepong, then national chairman and general secretary of the NPP, respectively, arrived in Bolgatanga for a meeting.

The prosecution stated that the deceased, Adams Mahama, organized some thugs to violently attack the two, disrupting the planned meeting at the Azumsolon Guest House. The attack was reportedly in response to their campaign against the party’s flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and for failing to inform Mahama of the meeting.

The police eventually restored order, but Afoko, angered by the incident, confronted Mahama before being chased away by thugs.
Formation of Another Group

The prosecution further alleged that Gregory Afoko and Asabke formed another youth group to protect individuals perceived to be against Nana Akufo-Addo.

The accused persons reportedly held a series of meetings with the youth, and on May 20, 2015, they ambushed Mahama at his residence with a substance suspected to be acid.

Mahama returned home at around 11:10 p.m. in his pickup truck, with registration number NR 761–14. As soon as he parked in front of his house, the suspects approached and signaled him to roll down his window.

Recognizing them as party members, Mahama lowered his window to speak with them.

Suddenly, the suspects poured the substance suspected to be acid on his head, face, and other parts of his body before fleeing on a motorbike.

Injuries and Death

Hearing his screams for help, Mahama’s wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams, rushed to his aid and managed to pull him out of the vehicle. In the process, she sustained burns on the right side of her chest and breast.

When she asked what had happened, Mahama allegedly identified Gregory and Asabke as his attackers.

Mahama succumbed to his injuries while being airlifted to Accra for treatment.

Following his arrest, Gregory Afoko led police to Asabke’s father’s house. However, by the time authorities reached Asabke’s own residence, he had already fled with his wife, leaving their baby behind.

A post-mortem report revealed that Mahama died from shock due to extensive acid burns.