Mr Peter Quartey Papafio, a forensic toxicologist and a chemist, at the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), has testified in the case in which Gregory Afoko,is accused in the murder of Alhaji Adams Mahama, the then Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Quartey told the court presided over by Justice Afua Merley Wood, Court of Appeal’s Judge, sitting as a High Court Judge, that at the GSA, he analysed post-mortem samples from the security agencies.
Mr Quartey,11th prosecution witness, said: “I also tendered in analytical reports and exhibits at the law courts and responsible for analytical reports and submitting the findings to the security agencies and various hospitals after the analysis.”
He said in May 28, 2015, the Head of Department asked him to receive a sample/exhibit from an investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Augustus Nkrumah of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters.
“The letter head of the GSA was signed by Charles Amoako for the then Director General and returned to the investigator in charge of the case,” Mr Quarteysaid.
Answering a question from Afoko’s counsel, Mr Andrews Vortia, the witness, said the type of colour of the sulphuric acid found was a brownish liquid substance.
Asked whether apart from sulphuric acid being corrosive, could it be fatal, the witness answered in the affirmative, saying upon contact with a sulphuric acid of 93 per cent or 16.89 molar, it could cause death.
Mr Quartey said “My job is to analyse or examine the exhibit,” adding that when he received the samples for examination, he was not aware of how it was collected, but he was aware that they were submitted by the police.
The witness said because of the corrosive nature of the acid he wore a latext gloves to protect his hands from burns.
Mr Quartey said, whoever pulled the deceased out of the car should have some burns because acid was all over him.
According to the facts of the case, on May 14, 2015, Gregory’s brother, Mr Paul Afoko, and Mr Kwabena Agyepong, then National Chairman and General Secretary respectively of the NPP, arrived in Bolgatanga for a meeting.
Adams Mahama, organised some thugs to violently attack the two, scuttling the planned meeting at the Azumsolon Guest House.
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.
The case had been adjourned to January 27, 2022. -GNA
