After spending almost a decade in custody, Gregory Afoko has finally been granted bail by the Accra High Court.
The court set bail at GH₵500,000, requiring two sureties, one of whom must have a landed property.
The registrar has been tasked with verifying all documents submitted, and Afoko must report to the police every two weeks.
Afoko, who was arrested in 2015, is accused of conspiring with others to assassinate Adams Mahama, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in a brutal acid attack outside his Bolgatanga home.
The trial, which began in 2019, concluded in 2023 with a jury returning a hung verdict on both counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. As a result, the court ordered a retrial.
Despite the conclusion of the initial trial, Afoko was re-arrested and denied bail.
However, his legal team filed a fresh bail application on February 17, marking the third time they had sought his release during the nine-year legal battle.
On Friday, the defense successfully argued for bail, securing a temporary victory for Afoko.
While his release signals progress for his defense, the trial remains ongoing as the state continues its prosecution.
Afoko’s legal team and family have long maintained his innocence, arguing that his prolonged detention without conviction violates his rights.
The state, however, insists on pursuing the case, determined to secure a conviction in the retrial.
As the legal battle continues, Afoko’s release on bail marks a significant turning point in a case that has captured national attention for nearly a decade.
