Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Member of Parliament for Akwatia and a representative of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has passed away. Sources close to his family and party confirm that he died on Monday, July 7, 2025, following a brief illness. The official cause of death has not yet been disclosed, and both Parliament and the NPP leadership have yet to issue formal statements or provide details on funeral arrangements.
Mr. Kumi was in his first term as MP, having won the Akwatia seat during the fiercely contested December 2024 general elections—one of the most politically charged races of the cycle.
Akwatia: A Constituency Fraught with Legal Tensions
Situated in Ghana’s Eastern Region, the Akwatia constituency became a center of political controversy during the 2024 elections. Mr. Kumi’s victory was quickly met with allegations of vote buying, electoral irregularities, and subsequent legal battles.
Following the declaration of results, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) challenged Kumi’s election in court. The Koforidua High Court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe, issued an interim injunction barring Kumi from presenting himself as MP or engaging in any parliamentary activity.
Tensions escalated further when Kumi allegedly defied the court order, prompting charges of contempt and a bench warrant for his arrest.
Supreme Court Clears Kumi of Contempt
In a landmark ruling on June 11, 2025, the Supreme Court overturned the contempt conviction and barred Justice Amedahe from proceeding with sentencing. The ruling followed a judicial review filed in February 2025 by Kumi’s legal team, led by Gary Nimako-Marfo, who also serves as the NPP’s Director of Legal Affairs.
The team successfully argued that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the election petition since the Electoral Commission had not yet issued the required gazette notification—a procedural prerequisite for such legal action.
Speaking to the media after the Supreme Court decision, NPP communicator Kwame Owiredu stated:
“As we speak now, Hon. Ernest Kumi remains the elected and valid MP for Akwatia. Hon. Ernest Yaw Kumi is as free as a bird. He’s a free man, and he will continue his good works as an MP for the good people of Akwatia.”
Details of the Legal Challenge
Kumi’s legal team sought both certiorari and prohibition reliefs from the Supreme Court. Their core arguments were:
- Jurisdictional Overreach: The High Court erred by assuming jurisdiction before the EC had gazetted the results.
- Violation of Natural Justice: The court proceeded with the contempt case despite a pending motion to dismiss it.
- Judicial Bias: The presiding judge was alleged to be prejudiced, refusing to hear Kumi’s counsel due to procedural technicalities.
Reliefs Granted
The Supreme Court granted the following:
- A declaration that the election petition filed before the gazette notification was void.
- A nullification of the contempt ruling, the bench warrant, and the interim injunction.
- A prohibition preventing Justice Amedahe from pursuing further action in the case.
The ruling cleared Mr. Kumi of all legal constraints and reaffirmed his legitimacy as MP—just weeks before his sudden and untimely death.
