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Forensic report from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has indicated that the burns on the base of the trousers of Gregory Afoko – one of the two persons being held by the police over the murder of Adams Mahama, Upper East Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) – was consistent with acid burns.

According to Matthew Amponsah, a chief state attorney, the report confirms the position of the prosecution as contained in the affidavit in opposition that “the clothing [of Gregory] was laced with sulphuric acid,” the very substance that killed Mr Adams.

The prosecution had earlier in a 28-paragraph affidavit in opposition to the application for bail filed by lawyers for Gregory Afoko, brother of NPP national chairman Paul Afoko, said the dress of the accused retrieved by the police during his arrest had been sent for forensic examination.

The affidavit filed on July 28, 2015 further disclosed that the final report on the wound on Gregory’s leg was yet to be released.

However, Mr Amponsah, who was opposing the application for bail in a court presided over by Justice Ken A. Okwabi, said the burns were acid burns.

He maintained that the case had not been unduly delayed and that the application for bail was premature and had no merit.

In the view of the chief state attorney, Gregory was not picked at random, adding that there was enough evidence against the accused.

He explained that there was no issue of mistaken identity, particularly when the deceased mentioned the names of those who poured the acid on him.

Mr Amponsah said that the pieces of evidence established the nexus between Gregory and the other persons in the case.

Public Interest

The chief state attorney said the police were aware of the high public interest in the case and as such was leaving no stone unturned to conclude the investigations expeditiously.

He stated that the police had so far been diligent and meticulous, indicating that several divisions in the Police Service had been brought on board to assist with the investigation.

Ekow Ampah Korsah, lead counsel for Gregory Afoko, a 53-year-old farmer who kept shaking his head and sniggering quietly to himself all through the presentation of Mr Amponsah, said the police had denied him access to his client who had been in the East Legon police cells since May 2015 when he was arrested.

He said he anticipated delays on the part of the prosecution, especially when they had failed to indicate when they intended to conclude their investigation.

Ampah Korsah stated that his client ought to be granted bail because he had no means to interfere with the investigation of the police or abscond when bailed.

Justice Okwabi, however, set August 18, 2015 to rule on whether or not to grant the bail.

No Show

In a related development, the Accra Central Magistrate Court presided over by Worlanyo Kotoku could not hear an intended application expected to have been filed by lawyers for Musah Issah.

This was because Mr Ampah Korsah, who was at the high court fighting for the freedom of Afoko, was not at the lower court for the application to be moved.

Gregory and Musah are before the Magistrate Court for allegedly intentionally and unlawfully causing the death of Adams on May 20, 2015 at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.