Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Member of Parliament for Akwatia in the Eastern Region, has passed away.
A first-term MP representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kumi reportedly died on Monday, July 7, 2025, after a short illness.
The cause of death has not been officially disclosed, and both Parliament and the NPP leadership are yet to release formal statements or funeral arrangements.
Kumi was seen in Parliament as recently as the previous week, making news of his sudden death all the more shocking.
He won the Akwatia seat in the December 2024 general elections in what became one of the most hotly contested and contentious races of the cycle. His victory was marred by allegations of vote buying and electoral irregularities, prompting the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to file a legal challenge.
The Koforidua High Court subsequently issued an interim injunction preventing him from acting as MP. Kumi was later cited for contempt of court after allegedly defying the injunction, leading to a bench warrant for his arrest.
However, on June 11, 2025, the Supreme Court overturned the High Court’s ruling. The apex court found that the lower court had acted without jurisdiction, as the Electoral Commission had not yet gazetted the election results—a procedural requirement for such cases. Kumi’s legal team, led by NPP Director of Legal Affairs Gary Nimako-Marfo, also argued breaches of natural justice and judicial bias.
The Supreme Court quashed the contempt ruling, the bench warrant, and all related orders, and barred the presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe, from taking further action. The ruling effectively cleared Mr. Kumi of all legal encumbrances and reaffirmed his legitimacy as MP—just weeks before his untimely passing.
He held multiple academic qualifications, including an MSc in Defence and International Politics from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (2022), an MBA in Corporate Governance from the University of Professional Studies (2014), an LLB from Mountcrest University College (2019), and a BSc in Ports and Shipping Administration from the Regional Maritime University (2009).
