The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Ernest Yaw Kumi, representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has passed away.
Sources close to the family and party disclosed that Mr. Kumi died on Monday, July 7, 2025, though the cause of death has not yet been officially disclosed. As of now, Parliament and the NPP leadership are yet to issue formal statements or announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Kumi was serving his first term in Parliament, having won the Akwatia seat in the December 2024 general elections, one of the most fiercely contested and politically sensitive races of that cycle.
Akwatia: A Constituency Mired in Controversy
Located in the Eastern Region, Akwatia constituency became a flashpoint in 2024 with Mr. Kumi’s victory marred by allegations of vote buying, irregularities, and legal disputes.
Following the announcement of results, the NDC challenged Kumi’s election in court. The Koforidua High Court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe, subsequently issued an interim injunction preventing Kumi from holding himself out as MP and participating in parliamentary activities.
However, the case escalated after Kumi allegedly defied the injunction, leading to contempt of court charges and the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest.
Supreme Court Overturns Contempt Ruling
In a major legal victory, the Supreme Court on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, quashed the contempt conviction and barred Justice Amedahe from proceeding with any sentencing.
The decision followed a judicial review application filed by Kumi in February 2025, led by his lawyer Gary Nimako-Marfo, who also serves as the NPP’s Director of Legal Affairs. The legal team argued that the High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the election petition since the Electoral Commission (EC) had not yet published a gazette notification of the parliamentary results—an essential procedural requirement to invoke the High Court’s jurisdiction in election disputes.
Speaking to the media following the Supreme Court ruling, 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.”
Background: Kumi’s Legal Challenge
Mr. Kumi’s legal challenge included both certiorari and prohibition applications, seeking to overturn the High Court’s ruling and prevent any further action by Justice Amedahe.
The legal team presented three central arguments:
- Jurisdictional Error“The learned High Court Judge committed a jurisdictional error of law apparent on the face of the record when he assumed jurisdiction in a parliamentary election petition at the Akwatia constituency at a time when the Electoral Commission had not published the gazette notification of the results to which the election relates.”
- Breach of Natural Justice“The learned High Court Judge breached the rules of natural justice when he proceeded to hear and determine the contempt application despite the pendency of the applicant’s motion to set aside the said contempt application for want of jurisdiction.”
- Judicial Bias“The learned High Court Judge was biased and highly prejudiced against the applicant when he, among others, refused to grant counsel for the applicant audience on the basis that counsel had not filed ‘Appearance’ in the contempt application.”
Reliefs Sought by Kumi
Mr. Kumi’s legal team requested the following reliefs from the Supreme Court:
- A declaration that the December 31, 2024, petition filed in the absence of a gazette notification was incompetent and legally void.
- A declaration that the contempt proceedings and the February 19, 2025, ruling were of no effect.
- An order of certiorari quashing:
- The contempt ruling;
- The bench warrant;
- The interim injunction dated January 2, 2025;
- And all other orders made under the disputed election petition.
- An order of prohibition against Justice Amedahe, preventing him from sentencing Mr. Kumi.
The Supreme Court granted the application, effectively clearing Ernest Kumi of all legal encumbrances related to the case and affirming his legitimacy as MP—just weeks before news of his unexpected passing.
