The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame has said the difference in the verdicts of the two accused persons in the Adams Mahama murder trial shows ‘severe challenges’ in the country’s jury system. 

The A-G, said he is, therefore, taking steps to remedy the situation. 

In a press release issued on Thursday, April 27, after the jury had given its verdict on the six-year-old trial, Mr Dame said “The instant case, particularly the unanimous verdict regarding the guilt of the 2nd accused for conspiracy to commit murder, while at the same time delivering a hung verdict in the case of 1st accused on the same charge, highlights the severe challenges with the jury system, a situation the Attorney-General is taking steps to remedy as part of proposal for amendment of many parts of the criminal procedure laws of Ghana.”

A 7-member jury on Thursday returned a 4-3 Not Guilty verdict for the charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder against Gregory Afoko.

The jurors could not reach a unanimous 7-0 verdict to prove Mr. Afoko was guilty.

The state has the opportunity to start his prosecution all over again.

The jurors, however, convicted his co-accused Asake Alangdi on the charge of Conspiracy to commit murder.

He is to face the death penalty by hanging.

Mr. Afoko who is the brother of former NPP Chairman Paul Afoko, has for years been standing trial over the murder of Adams Mahama, former NPP Upper East regional chairman.