Gregory Afoko
The caution investigation statement given to the Bolgatanga Police by Gregory Afoko at the time of his arrest in 2015 has been admitted into evidence by an Accra High Court.
The statement which was tendered through one of the substantive investigators in the matter in which Afoko has been accused of allegedly murdering the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Adams Mahama, was read to the hearing of the court.
The accused person in the statement denied knowledge of the incident claiming he does not know anything about the death of the late NPP official.
He told the police that he is a farmer who lives with his wife and sick father. The statement noted that Afoko, due to his father’s ill health, abandoned his farming to take care of him.
He told the police that on May 22, 2015, he was home with his dad sleeping when he heard a noise with an officer asking him to come out. He said the officer told him to go back and dress properly and he complied.
Afoko claimed in the statement that the police searched the entire house but they did not find anything in the house. He said the officers told him he and one Asabke Alangdi, who is said to be on the run, had poured acid on the late NPP man.
He stated that the officers later took him to Asabke’s house but they did not meet the suspect in the house.
He said he was sent to Bolga Central Police Station and later to Tamale Central Police Station where he was detained. “I want to state that I know nothing about this incident”, the statement claimed.
Investigator Testifies
One of the substantive investigators in the matter, Detective Chief Inspector Charles Blay, led in his evidence-in-chief by Mathew Amponsah, a chief state attorney, told the court how the case was assigned to him at the time of the incident and the role he played in the investigations.
The investigator who is the 12th prosecution witness said his role was however, limited as the Homicide Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Greater Accra Regional Headquarters had taken over the investigation led by Superintendent William Sediame.
“When the incident occurred on 20th May 2015, I was tasked to investigate the case. On 21st May 2015, a team of investigators of the homicide unit in Accra led by Supt. William Sediame, together with senior a pathologist, Dr. Lawrence Lawrence Adusei from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, arrived at Bolga to assist in investigations after the deceased passed on 21st May 2015. On their arrival, a post mortem was conducted on the deceased after the body had been identified in my presence and the team of investigators from Accra”, the witness stated.
“Soon after the post mortem, instructions came that the team from Accra should take over the investigation. I was asked to assist them. In view of that, I took statements from the prosecution witnesses, Afoko, and other witnesses”, Detective Chief Inspector Blay disclosed.
He also confirmed to the court that Hajia Zeinabu Adam, wife of the deceased, sustained acid burns during her attempt to assist her husband who was screaming in agony because of the acid that was poured on him.
Cross Examination
Defence lawyer, Osafo Buabeng, in his cross examination indicated that the investigator’s name does not reflect in Hajia’s statement as one of those who were there when the statement was taken.
Detective Chief Inspector Blay responded that his name was not in the statement but he was there. “It is not the norm that the investigator’s name to be added as being present.
Asked whether he was aware that between March and May there were a series of disturbances between the deceased and the NPP members in Bolga, he said ‘no’.
Hearing continues today.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak & Ruth Ofori