Court unhappy with delays of Afoko medical report
The Accra High Court hearing the case involving Gregory Afoko charged with the murder of the NPP Upper-East regional chairman, on Friday expressed concern about the delay in the comprehensive health report on the accused as ordered at the last adjourned date.
The court at the last sitting was informed by the Deputy Director of the Nsawam prison that the accused person was to be sent to the hospital for an MRI scan on February 9, and for that reason the case was adjourned to today.
Justice L.L Mensah said “the court is still expecting the medical report of the latest condition of Afoko from the medical directorate, but as at now it has still not been furnished with anything”.
The court for that reason adjourned the matter to March 7.
The Ghana News Agency observed that, the accused person as well as the prosecution was not in court but counsel for the accused Mr Samuel Charway was present.
The Ghana News Agency file indicates that the case was adjourned on the bases of the ill health of the accused.
Based on the accused person’s condition of health, the Judge had tasked the prosecution to provide the court with the comprehensive health report of the accused.
Afoko, a farmer is alleged to have killed Mr Adams Mahama, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Upper East Region Chairman.
He is being held on the charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder and murder, he has however pleaded not guilty before a seven-member jury at an Accra High Court.
So far the deceased’s wife Hajia Zenabu Adams had testified in the matter. Prosecution intends to call 14 other witnesses to make their case.
It is alleged that he 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 advised that there was not enough evidence to put him on trial.
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 had already undertaken committal proceedings before an Accra 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 led by Mr Amponsah, Chief State Attorney, said the deceased was a contractor who lived at Bolgatanga SSNIT Flats in the Upper East Region and the NPP Regional Chairman.
According to Mr Amponsah, Afoko also lived in Bolgatanga and he 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 with 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 his entrance, 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 they 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.
Source: GNA