NPP Chairman Killed In Acid Attack

Tragedy struck the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in particular and Ghana as a whole yesterday when the party's Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Akalbila Mahama, was bathed with acid leading to his untimely death.

Adams could not survive the effect of the acid poured on him allegedly by two persons he was reported to have mentioned as Gregory Afoko and Azabiga, whose whereabouts were not known at the time of filing this report.

Gregory Afoko, who is believed to be the younger brother of the NPP National Chairman, Paul Afoko, has been arrested by the police and sent to Accra for further investigations. The Homicide Unit of the police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Accra has taken over the case.

The other suspect is said to be on the run even as Paul Afoko stoutly defends his brother, claiming that he is innocent.

'When I asked, I was told that my brother (Gregory Afoko) was asleep by then,' Paul Afoko said during an interview.

Afoko therefore described the allegation as unfortunate since it could not be true.

Gregory is linked to the formation of a vigilante group in the Upper East Region with the sole objective of providing security for Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong, NPP General Secretary, anytime the two visited the region.

The police were still looking for Azabiga to assist in investigation.

Flashback
On May 14, 2015 some angry youth of the NPP in Bolgatanga, the regional capital, rioted and disrupted a supposed meeting among some regional and constituency executives, the National Chairman, Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong, without the knowledge of Chairman Adams Mahama.

The angry youth claimed their regional chairman had not been informed about the meeting, and they thought that was an insult to him.

There were claims that Adams Mahama organised the youth to disrupt the meeting.

The late regional chairman denied all allegations against him, and apologised on behalf of the party youth for the disturbance in the municipality and called for calm in the party.

Then on Monday, May 18, a group of party youth, by name 'Youth For Afoko', believed to have been mobilised by Gregory Afoko, announced its presence and intension. Nothing was heard about Youth For Afoko till the night of Wednesday, May 20, when Gregory was arrested by the police as one of the persons mentioned by the late regional chairman before his death.

Adams and Afoko were said to be at loggerheads, hence the attempt to sidestep him (Adams) in organising the meeting in the region.

Attack On Adams Mahama
On the night of May 20, Adams Mahama was about getting home from a meeting at about 11pm when some two persons he mentioned as Gregory Afoko and Azabiga allegedly met him. When his car stopped, they opened the door and purportedly poured the acid on his body while he was still sitting in the driver's seat.

The two suspects then fled into the dark and the late Adams screamed for help, which attracted his wife's attention. His aide, Osman Zakaria, was called to the scene, according to an eyewitness, and Chairman Mahama was rushed to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.

On Thursday, people who heard the news called others and in no time, the forecourt of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the maternity ward of the hospital were filled with people from all walks of life, including the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Daniel Syme, the NPP leadership and members in the region. There were also members of the National Democratic Congress, the People's National Convention, and various women groups.

There were plans to fly Adams for specialist care in Accra and by the time the arrangement was concluded at about 8:50am, the NPP Regional Chairman had passed on.

The gestures of his aide, Osman Zakaria, at the entrance to the ICU, quickly sent the signal round.

Some women, on hearing the death of Adams Mahama, collapsed and were also admitted at the same hospital.

Confirmation
It was then confirmed by the Upper East Regional NPP Secretary, Cletus Innocent Ayambire, who appealed to party members and sympathisers to calm down while the police continued with their investigation.

Before the official announcement by the Regional Secretary, the Upper East Regional 1^st Vice Chairman, Osman Kunkunaba, had been attacked and beaten by some unidentified youth.

But for the timely intervention of the police, the angry youth would have lynched him.

Adams' Relationship With People
Though Adams was loved by many within and outside the NPP, he had problems with some of his regional executives. It is alleged that all was not well between Adams Mahama and Osman Kunkunaba.

Some party members and youth are of the view that the attack on the late Adams Mahama might be a reaction to the recent disturbance which led to the cancellation of a supposed meeting with Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that there was a meeting scheduled for yesterday as part of activities for the unification of the party in the region.

Police personnel have been stationed at vantage points to protect the family house of Paul Afoko at Bolgatanga Estate, as well as the NPP and NDC offices in the municipality to prevent possible attacks by angry youth.

The late Adams Akalbila Mahama will be laid to rest in line with Islamic rites today.

The New Patriotic Party's running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and other party chieftains are expected to pay their last respect before the burial.

From: Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Bolgatanga