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The judge hearing the case involving Gregory Afoko in the alleged murder of the late Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Adam Mahama, has warned the prosecution against delays.

The Appeal Court Judge, sitting as an additional High Court Judge, Justice Lawrence Ladzaglah Mensah, said that the earlier refusal of bail to the accused should not be used as a licence to delay the trial.

He urged the prosecution to facilitate the trial, and adjourned the case to July 19.

That was after the Chief State Attorney, Mathew Amponsah, told the court that though case was scheduled for hearing yesterday, the witnesses from Bolgatanga was not available because they had to embark on the 16 hours journey.

However, counsel for the accused, Eric Ampah Korsah expressed worry that the case was being delayed.

An Accra Criminal High Court on June 28 refused bail to Gregory Afoko, following a plea for bail by his counsel.

That has brought to three the number of times the accused had been denied bail.

The counsel for the accused, Israel Ackah, on June 24, moved a motion praying the court to grant his client bail. However, this was opposed by prosecution led by the Chief State Attorney.

Justice Mensah said that, given the nature and the severity of the circumstances under which the deceased was murdered, it would be in the interest of justice to refuse the accused bail.

Prior to the ruling by the judge, the State Attorney, told the court in his objection to the bail application that there had not been any unreasonable delay in the trial and also a case had been made against him at the committal trial.

Mr. Amponsah also prayed the court to take into consideration the security of the accused when granted bail and the level of public interest the case had generated.