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Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Ernest Kumi’s tenure was overshadowed by relentless litigation – Sammi Awuku

Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, has paid tribute to the late Akwatia MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi, describing his brief tenure in Parliament as one marred by relentless litigation that robbed him of the chance to serve his constituents fully.

In an interview on Channel One Newsroom on Monday, July 7, Mr. Awuku reflected on the legal turmoil that overshadowed Kumi’s time in office, describing the constant court cases as emotionally and mentally exhausting for the young legislator.

“I can tell you for a fact that the gentleman was just stressed,” he said. “Today, it is the High Court undermining his victory, and pulling him to the High Court. The next day, they are pulling him to the Supreme Court. My brother did not even enjoy the benefit of serving his people with a clean conscience and a clear mind.”

“He never had the benefit of concentrating on his people. Every day, he was being dragged to court. It was very draining for him, and I quite remember one time he said to me; Commander, I am tired,” Mr. Awuku added.

According to Awuku, the late MP had also confided plans to launch a foundation to support the people of Akwatia, but repeated legal challenges delayed its rollout.

Ernest Yaw Kumi, a first-time MP elected on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), died on Monday, July 7, 2025. His passing came just months into his tenure, following his controversial victory in the fiercely contested December 2024 general elections.

Akwatia, located in the Eastern Region, emerged as one of the major battlegrounds in the 2024 elections. Mr. Kumi’s win was immediately contested by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which alleged electoral irregularities and vote-buying.

The dispute was taken to court, with the Koforidua High Court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe, issuing an interim injunction restraining Kumi from holding himself out as MP. Kumi’s subsequent defiance of the injunction led to contempt proceedings and a bench warrant for his arrest.

However, in a dramatic turn, the Supreme Court on June 11, 2025, overturned the High Court’s ruling. It quashed the contempt conviction and barred Justice Amedahe from issuing any further sentencing, marking a significant legal win for Kumi just weeks before his passing.

Ernest Kumi’s death has left a void not only within the New Patriotic Party but also in the Parliament of Ghana, where he served despite the many hurdles.

His colleagues, including Sammi Awuku, remember him as a fighter who, even under pressure, remained committed to his duties and dreams for Akwatia.

 

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