The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Ernest Yaw Kumi, has sadly passed away at the age of 40. News of his death was confirmed by GHOne TV today, Monday, July 7, although details surrounding the circumstances remain scarce at this time.
Kumi’s untimely death comes just months after he was at the centre of a high-profile legal battle. Earlier this year, on February 19, 2025, he was cited for contempt by the Koforidua High Court for defying an interim injunction that had barred him from being sworn in as a Member of Parliament on the minority side of the house.
The court subsequently issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for sentencing. Presiding judge Justice Senyo Amedahe noted that Kumi had persistently failed to show up in court throughout the contempt proceedings. Attempts by the Minority Caucus to justify his absence, citing parliamentary commitments, were dismissed by the judge, who ruled that accepting such an excuse would undermine the authority of the court.
However, Kumi’s legal troubles appeared to ease when, on June 11, 2025, the Supreme Court, in a 4-1 majority decision, overturned the contempt conviction. The apex court quashed the interim injunction that had temporarily barred him from serving his constituency and granted his request to prohibit Justice Senyo Amedahe from proceeding with sentencing.
Despite this legal victory, his sudden passing has left many in shock. Condolence messages have begun flooding in from the public, political figures, and community members, all expressing their deep sympathies to his family during this difficult time.
The cause of his death has not yet been confirmed.
