Accra: An Accra High Court has discharged Gregory Afoko, a farmer accused of murdering Adams Mahama, former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The court also discharged Alangid Asabke, a serving convict who was standing trial alongside Afoko. Both individuals were accused of conspiring in the murder of Mahama in May 2015.
According to Ghana News Agency, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons, the trial judge, cited several reasons for the discharge, including numerous adjournments, the absence of some jury members, and the absence of the prosecution. The accused had faced a third trial on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder. The second trial ended with a hung jury, prompting a fresh trial.
The trial before Justice Simmons commenced last year, following a Bill of Indictment filed on March 22, 2019. During this period, the accused persons’ pleas were taken, a new jury was empanelled, and some witnesses were called, though some were later discharged. The prosecution had indicated plans to call additional witnesses.
Proceedings, however, stalled after six adjournments at the instance of the Attorney-General, who needed to make a decision on the matter. The judge highlighted the repeated inconvenience and costs incurred, including payments to jurors each time they reported to court.
On December 1, 2025, marking the seventh or eighth adjournment, no prosecutor was present to update the court, and only five out of the seven-member jury attended. Consequently, the judge decided to discharge the accused persons and the jury.
Afoko had been admitted to bail on February 21, 2025, in the sum of GHS500,000 after nearly nine years on remand. He and Asabke had been accused of allegedly pouring acid on Mahama on May 20, 2015, leading to his death.