A Koforidua High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Ernest Yaw Kumi, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Akwatia, over contempt charges.
The court, led by Justice Senyo Amedahe, took the decision after Kumi ignored an injunction that barred him from being sworn in as a member of parliament on January 7, 2025.
Justice Amedahe stated that Kumi had consistently failed to appear before the court since contempt proceedings began, leading to the issuance of the arrest warrant.
The court also dismissed a letter from the Minority Caucus of Parliament, which claimed Kumi was unavailable due to parliamentary duties.
The legal dispute stems from an injunction granted on January 3, 2025, following a lawsuit filed by Henry Boakye-Yiadom, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate and former MP.
The case, which challenges the election results, names the Electoral Commission (EC), Kumi, and the Clerk to Parliament as respondents. Despite the injunction, Kumi proceeded with his swearing-in.
Earlier in January, Kumi’s legal team, led by lawyer Gary Nimako, sought to overturn the injunction, arguing that election petitions could only be filed after the EC had officially gazetted the results.
However, the court upheld the plaintiff’s position, citing legal precedents that allow challenges once the election process is completed.
The ruling reinforced the injunction, setting the stage for the contempt proceedings that have now resulted in the bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest.
