The Supreme Court has reportedly thrown out embattled New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP), Ernest Yaw Kumi, according to GhOne TV.
The incident reportedly happened on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, when the NPP MP appeared before the apex court of the land.
The court refused to give Yaw Kumi audience, stating that he refused to show respect to the High Court that convicted him.
“Supreme Court refuses to grant audience to Ernest Yaw Kumi, stating he has failed to show respect to the Koforidua High Court,” a post shared by GhOne TV on Wednesday.
A Koforidua High Court issued a bench warrant for Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Member of Parliament (MP) of Akwatia in the Eastern Region, after convicting him of contempt of court.
According to multiple reports, the bench warrant was issued after Kumi failed to appear in court.
The MP had disobeyed an interim injunction issued on January 7, 2025, which barred him from being sworn in and admitted as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Akwatia constituency due to an ongoing legal dispute over his election.
Despite the court order, Kumi presented himself in Parliament and was sworn in on January 7, 2025.
Presiding Judge Justice Senyo Amedahe ruled that the convict had consistently failed to appear in court throughout the contempt case.
He also dismissed a letter from the Minority Caucus, which argued that the MP was occupied with parliamentary duties and, therefore, could not attend court sessions.
The judge rejected the letter, stating that accepting it would contradict his ruling.
Yaw Kumi’s party, the NPP, announced that a legal action would be made against the justice who convicted him at the Supreme Court.
Addressing the press at Parliament on Thursday, February 20, 2025, the MP of Weija-Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, reading a statement on behalf of the caucus, stated that multiple legal actions had been taken in response to the judge’s ruling, including an application before the Supreme Court.
“At this stage, let me further state that legal steps have been taken, and a notice of appeal has been filed against the High Court’s ruling at the Court of Appeal. An application for a stay of execution pending appeal has also been filed at High Court Number 3 in Koforidua.
“Moreover, all parties to the prohibition application, including the judge, His Lordship Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe, who is the respondent in this application before the Supreme Court, have been duly served. Further legal steps will be taken, and the Minority Caucus in Parliament will keep the Ghanaian public informed on the way forward,” he said.
The Weija-Gbawe legislator also argued that the High Court judge erred in his ruling. He stated that it was improper for the judge to demand the filing of an appearance in a quasi-criminal matter.
“When someone previously came before you, you allowed the person to open a phone to provide details of a certain WhatsApp message or publication. But when a lawyer stands in for a client in a contempt matter, you insist the lawyer must file an appearance in a quasi-criminal case? Eii, Justice Senyo Amedahe,” he said.
