Seven-member jury to try Gregory Afoko

The Accra High Court yesterday constituted a seven-member jury to pave the way for the trial of Gregory Afoko, the man indicted of killing the Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Adams Mahama.

The seven-member jury, made up of three males and four females, was arrived at after Afoko had used his right to three peremptory challenges to reject three potential jurors, two males and a female.

Following the presentation of the facts of the case, the court, presided over by Mr Justice Lawrence L. Mensah, an Appeal Court judge with additional jurisdiction over the High Court, asked the accused to enter his plea.

Afoko then pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to murder and murder.

The court subsequently fixed April 19, 2016 as the day for the trial to begin.

In all, the state is expected to call 15 witnesses, including the wife of the deceased, Hajia Zenabu Adams.

Afoko is being represented by Mr Israel Ackah, while a Chief State Attorney, Mr Matthew Amponsah, is leading the prosecution.

Committal 
The Accra District Court, on February 22, 2016, committed Afoko to stand trial at the High Court.

That was after the lower court had ruled at the committal proceedings that based on the evidence presented, there was a 'compelling case for the accused to answer at the High Court'.

Facts
According to the facts of the case, on May 14, 2015, Gregory's brother, Mr Paul Afoko, and Mr Kwabena Agyepong, then national chairman and general secretary, respectively, of the NPP, arrived in Bolgatanga for a meeting.

The deceased, the prosecution claimed, organised some thugs to violently attack the two, scuttling the planned meeting at the Azumsolon Guest House, for campaigning against the flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and also not notifying him of the meeting. 

The situation, according to the prosecution, was later brought under control by the police, adding that the accused, who was then upset, confronted Mahama but was chased out by thugs. 

Another group
The facts also noted that Gregory and Asabke formed another youth group in their bid to protect persons perceived to be against Nana Akufo-Addo.

It said the accused persons held a series of meetings with the youth and on May 20, 2015 they laid ambush at Mahama's residence with a substance suspected to be acid.

'The deceased returned home around 11:10 p.m. in his pick-up vehicle, with registration number NR 761 - 14, and immediately he parked the vehicle in front of his house, the suspects went close and signalled him to roll down the glass. 

'The deceased identified the suspects to be party members and rolled down the glass to talk to them. Suddenly, the suspects poured the substance, suspected to be acid, on his head, face and other parts of his body and fled on a motorbike.

'The deceased started screaming for help and his wife, Hajia Zenabu Adams, went to his aid and managed to bring him out of the vehicle,' the prosecution added.

Injuries
According to the prosecution, Mahama's wife also sustained burns on the right side of her chest and breast while assisting her husband. 

It said when she inquired from her husband about what had happened to him, he told her Gregory and Asabke had attacked him.

Mahama died while being airlifted to Accra for treatment. 

Gregory, who was later picked up, led the police to Asabke's father's house.

The police later located Asabke's house but he had then absconded with his wife, abandoning their baby in the process.

A post-mortem report on Mahama said he died of shocked lungs and extensive acid burns.

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