The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Ernest Kumi, has died following a brief illness that had kept him away from parliamentary duties in recent days.
His passing has left Parliament and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in mourning, with Joy News Parliamentary Correspondent Kweku Asante reporting a sombre mood in the House during today’s sitting.
Kumi, a first-term MP elected on the NPP ticket, had recently been involved in a high-profile legal battle regarding the legitimacy of his seat.
His death comes just weeks after the Supreme Court overturned his contempt conviction in connection with the disputed 2024 parliamentary election results.
His sudden demise marks a significant loss for both his constituents and the NPP.
Last month, the Supreme Court overturned the contempt conviction of Ernest Yaw Kumi.
The conviction was originally issued by the Koforidua High Court, which also authorized a bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest. That warrant, signed by Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe, followed the MP’s conviction for contempt of court.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the Supreme Court not only nullified the conviction but also invalidated the execution of the bench warrant. The decision effectively halts any further legal action or sentencing by Justice Amedahe regarding the case.
The ruling was decided by a 4–1 majority, with Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang presiding over the panel and issuing the lone dissenting opinion.
On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, the Koforidua High Court found the MP for Akwatia guilty of contempt for defying an interim injunction that barred him from being sworn in as a legislator.
Following his failure to appear in court for sentencing, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.
In response, the MP, through his legal counsel, filed a motion for certiorari and prohibition at the Supreme Court.
He argued that the High Court judge overstepped his jurisdiction by assuming authority over the Parliamentary Election Petition for the Akwatia Constituency before the Electoral Commission had officially published the election results in the Gazette.
The MP contended that the petition, filed by Henry Boakye-Yiadom on December 31, 2024, was legally flawed due to the absence of the Gazette Notification, which is required to validate an election result. As such, he claimed that any orders arising from the petition—including the injunction—were null and void.
