The long-running murder case involving Gregory Afoko and Asabke Alangdi has hit yet another delay as the Attorney-General is yet to determine the next steps. Accused of conspiring to kill former Upper East Regional NPP Chairman Adams Mahama, the duo was set to appear in court on Monday, April 7.
However, presiding judge Marie-Louise Simmons adjourned proceedings to May 30, stating that the prosecution had informed the court that the Attorney-General is still reviewing the matter.
Gregory Afoko, who is currently out on a GHC500,000 bail after nearly a decade in remand, expressed frustration over the prolonged legal process.
“I’m happy I’ve gotten bail and I’m with my family now. From the onset I’ve not committed any crime, but they kept holding me for all these years – 10 years,” he told reporters outside the courtroom. His brother, Paul Afoko, a former NPP National Chairman, echoed his sentiments, calling for swifter justice. “Even if he had been convicted of manslaughter, he would’ve finished with his sentence and come home… we just pray that justice is done expeditiously.”
In April 2024, a jury returned a hung verdict on Afoko but unanimously convicted Alangdi of conspiracy, resulting in a death sentence for the latter. Alangdi has since appealed, while the High Court ordered a retrial for both men.
The case, however, has yet to resume due to challenges in reconstituting a new jury—further compounding what is already one of Ghana’s most drawn-out criminal trials in recent memory.