The Accra High Court has discharged Gregory Afoko, who was accused of killing former Upper East Regional NPP Chairman Adams Mahama, after nearly eleven years of legal proceedings. His alleged accomplice, Asabke Alangdi—previously convicted—was also discharged.
Presiding judge Justice Marie-Louise Simmons ruled that the long delays, repeated adjournments, and lack of progress by the prosecution justified ending the trial. This case marked the third attempt to try the two men for conspiracy to commit murder and murder, following a hung jury in the second trial.
The third trial began in 2024, using the same Bill of Indictment filed in March 2019. Both Afoko and Alangdi entered pleas on January 18, 2024, after a jury was empanelled. Between April and November 2024, the prosecution presented five out of the 16 witnesses listed before the trial stalled.
The court noted that since November 24, 2024, there had been roughly six adjournments at the prosecution’s request, despite jurors appearing for duty and the state being obligated to pay their allowances. On December 1, 2025—after yet another adjournment and with no prosecutor present—the judge highlighted the persistent lack of activity and observed that only five of the seven jurors were in attendance.
The court concluded that the prolonged delays and ineffective prosecution warranted discharging both accused persons.
Source: myjoyonline
