Aside the claim of his incorruptibility, which has since been crushed by Martin Amidu, ahead of his resignation, President Akufo-Addo’s human rights record too, is being tested by the continuous incarceration of Gregory Afoko, the younger brother of Paul Afoko, the suspended National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The family of Gregory, revealed his maltreatment he is suffering in the hands of the state security apparatus, with a stern warning to authorities that, if anything untoward happens to their son, the family will hold them accountable.
Akufo-Addo, has in the past described himself as a human rights advocate, who had used his profession as a lawyer, to fight for rights of journalists, including Kofi Coomson of the Ghanaian Chronicle newspaper and others.
There had been reports suggesting that, Gregory, had died from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic; an allegation which has been vehemently denied by the family.
Gregory Afoko, is one of the suspects alleged to have killed the Upper East Regional Chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Adams Mahama, in 2015.
In a statement addressing issues surrounding Gregory’s wellbeing, the family, said it would “hold the authorities individually and collectively responsible if anything untoward happens to Greg”.
The statement indicated that their son, Gregory Afoko, has been removed from Prison custody to BNI custody; a move which has prevented the family access to their son.
“He has been held unlawfully in BNI custody in solitary confinement for over a year. Unlawfully, because he had been remanded into prison custody by a court, but was removed by force from the Nsawam prison to BNI custody where access to him has been excessively restricted.”
The family believes that this move is an attempt to harm their son and they will fight back if something bad happens to him.
“These developments make us suspect that someone is hatching a sinister plan to harm our son. We are forced to call on the Builsa community and all those who GENUINELY believe in human rights to collectively save a soul who has been facing gross injustice at the hands of the state and its actors.”
Alhaji Mahama suffered severe bodily injuries after a substance suspected to be acid was allegedly poured on him in front of his house in Bolgatanga on May 20, 2015.
He later died from the injuries at the Bolgatanga General Hospital.
Afoko’s trial started in 2016, and was nearing completion after the prosecution and the defence had closed their cases.
On January 26, 2019, Afoko closed his case after he and his brother, John Ishmael Afoko, had testified.
The prosecution, led by a Chief State Attorney, Matthew Amponsah, had called 14 individuals as prosecution witnesses.
Subsequently, the presiding judge, Justice Lawrence Mensah, directed the two parties to file their written addresses.
Nolle prosequi
However, on January, 28, 2019, the A-G, filed a nolle prosequi to discontinue the trial, following the arrest of the other suspect, Asabke Alangdi, who had been on the run since the incident occurred in 2015.
Afoko and Alangdi were then put before the Accra Central District Court on provisional charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder for committal proceedings, which are a prelude to the trial at the High Court.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE
21/11/2020
PRESS RELEASE
GREGORY AFOKO IS ALIVE AND HEALTHY
The Royal Ayieta family of Sandema, wishes to inform all, that the news trending about Gregory Afoko’s demise is false. Greg is in some form of good health & has in the past week even tested negative for Covid-19.
This malevolent false news is without credibility. The hidden hands behind it are doing so to achieve a certain evil outcome.
The family will hold the authorities individually and collectively responsible if anything untoward happens to Greg.
He has been held unlawfully in BNI custody in solitary confinement for over a year. Unlawfully, because he had been remanded into prison custody by a court but was removed by force from the Nsawam prison to BNI custody where access to him has been excessively restricted.
These developments make us suspect that someone is hatching a sinister plan to harm our son. We are forced to call on the Builsa community and all those who GENUINELY believe in human rights to collectively save a soul who has been facing gross injustice at the hands of the state and its actors.
Thank you.
Robert Atong Asekabta, Spokesperson, Ayieta Family, Sandema
