A seven-member Jury has been selected to try Gregory Afoko for the murder of the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Adams Mahama.

This came after Gregory Afoko objected to three of the Jurors, prompting their replacement at the Accra High Court.

An Accra District Court, on February 22, 2016, committed Afoko to stand trial at the High Court.

The court said based on the evidence presented there was a “compelling case for the accused to answer at the High Court”.

Gregory Afoko and Asabke Alangdi have been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and murder.

A third accomplice, Musa Issa, was granted bail after the Attorney-General had advised that there was not enough evidence to charge him.

The trial was scheduled to start on March 23, 2016 but was postponed to Tuesday, April 5 after the absence of the trial judge, Justice Lawrence L. Mensah, an appeals Court judge, with additional responsibilities as a High Court judge.

As a result of the development, the prosecutor, Mr Mathew Amponsah, a Chief State Attorney, and Afoko’s legal team agreed on the next adjourned date.

At the court on Tuesday, lawyer for the accused, Israel Ackah said the facts as presented by the prosecution are not conclusive and do not establish the guilt of the accused.

He asked the jury to carefully assess the facts and come to a just verdict by acquitting the accused. 

Mr. Ackah said that they will soon be made aware that the case against Mr Afoko is built on “unfounded speculations, half-hearted investigations, innuendos, unsubstantiated rumours which the Jury will reject.”