A High Court in Accra has discharged Gregory Afoko and Asabke Alangdi in the long-standing case involving the death of former Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Adams Mahama.
The court’s decision follows persistent delays and the repeated absence of state prosecutors. With the discharge, the legal proceedings against Afoko—who has been on trial for nearly a decade—have effectively come to an end.
Afoko was accused of playing a role in the 2015 acid attack that led to Mahama’s death. The trial, marked by multiple adjournments and intense public attention, has been one of Ghana’s most notable criminal cases in recent years.
At the court sitting on Monday, December 1, the judge noted the prosecution’s continued failure to appear or provide updates after what was believed to be the seventh or eighth adjournment. In response, the presiding judge ordered the discharge of both accused persons.
Background
Adams Mahama was attacked with acid on May 20, 2015, sustaining severe burns that led to his death. Police investigations concluded that two individuals were involved in the attack. While Afoko was arrested shortly after the incident, the second suspect, Asabke Alangdi, fled the country and remained at large for years.
In January 2019, after Alangdi was later arrested, the Attorney General entered a nolle prosequi to discontinue Afoko’s initial trial, paving the way for a joint prosecution of both suspects. However, years of delays and procedural setbacks ultimately led to their discharge by the High Court.
