The Accra Magistrate’s Court has declined bail for Gregory Afoko and Musah Issah over their alleged roles in the acid attack that claimed the life of the Upper East Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Afoko and Musah Issah, a trader, will, therefore, reappear before the court on June 28, 2015.
Afoko, 50, and Issah are said to have conspired with Asabke Alangdi, now at large, to pour acid on Alhaji Adams Mahama on May 20, 2015.
Afoko has been charged with murder and conspiracy, while Issah is facing a charge of abetment.
Their pleas have not been taken.
The court, presided over by Mr Worlanyo Kotoku, admitted a submission by the prosecution to withdraw its earlier charge sheet and substitute it with a new one.
Mr Alfred Adjei Mensah, counsel for Issah, prayed the court to admit his client on bail, pending the determination of the matter, on the grounds that abetment was a bailable offence.
However, the prosecutor, Superintendent of Police Mr Francis Baah, objected to the application, saying Issah could interfere with the conduct of thorough investigations into the case.
‘The nature of abetment in this case is abetment of murder; therefore, granting the suspect bail will cause him to interfere with police investigations,’ he told the court.
Background
Until his untimely death, Alhaji Mahama was a contractor and Upper East Regional Chairman of the NPP, while Afoko and Issah are a farmer and a trader, respectively.
According to the prosecution, in May 2015, Mr Paul Afoko and Mr Kwabena Agyepong, the National Chairman and the General Secretary of the NPP, respectively, embarked on a tour of the Upper East Region and arrived in Bolgatanga on May 14, 2015.
However, the deceased organised some thugs to violently attack them, scuttling a planned meeting at the Azumsolom Guest House in Bolgatanga.
The situation was later brought under control by the police.
Gregory Afoko, according to the prosecution,was not impressed with the action taken by Alhaji Mahama and had a serious confrontation with him until he (Gregory) was chased away by thugs.
‘Later, Gregory and Alangdi mobilised some youth to form another group, with the sole aim to protect the party executives.
‘The suspects and other members had a series of meetings and in the evening of May 20, 2015 the two suspects, armed with a substance in a gallon suspected to be acid, laid ambush at the deceased’s residence,’ the prosecution said.
It said Alhaji Mahama returned home about 11 p.m. in his pick-up, 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.
‘He identified the suspects to be his party members and rolled down the glass to talk to them, but suddenly the suspects poured the acid on his head, face and other parts of the body and fled on a motorbike,’ it said.
During investigations, Gregory was arrested and the police later located the house of Alangdi, who had absconded with his wife, leaving behind their baby.
The prosecution stated that a gallon which contained some acid and a plastic cup were retrieved at the scene for forensic examination.
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