NPP goes BLACK

The Eastern Regional Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially confirmed the death of Akwatia Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi, on Monday, July 7, 2025.

The sudden news has thrown the Akwatia Constituency, the NPP, and the entire country into mourning.

In an official statement, the party described Mr. Kumi’s passing as both sudden and untimely, expressing shock over the development.

“Hon. Kumi was a dedicated public servant whose commitment to the development of Akwatia and the ideals of the NPP was unwavering. We extend our deepest condolences to his immediate family, the chiefs and people of the Akwatia Constituency, and the entire NPP fraternity across the country,” the statement read.

The party extended sympathies to his family, the traditional authorities, the people of Akwatia, and the wider NPP family across the nation.

Mr. Kumi’s time in Parliament, though short, was surrounded by controversy after the 2024 general elections. He won the Akwatia seat by a slim margin, defeating the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Henry Boakye-Yiadom. However, his victory was quickly challenged in court.

On January 3, 2025, a court injunction was issued, preventing him from being sworn in due to an ongoing legal challenge over alleged irregularities in the parliamentary election.

Despite the court order, Mr. Kumi went ahead to take the oath of office on January 7, 2025. This action triggered contempt proceedings against him. His repeated failure to appear in court resulted in a bench warrant issued for his arrest by Justice Senyo Amedahe earlier today—just hours before his death was officially confirmed.

The legal tussle stemmed from claims by Mr. Boakye-Yiadom that the Akwatia election was fraught with irregularities that compromised its fairness. While Mr. Kumi’s legal team argued that there were procedural flaws in how the injunction was granted, the court dismissed those claims and maintained the validity of the order. This allowed the contempt case to move forward.

Mr. Kumi’s death brings an unexpected and somber turn to a legal and political battle that had captured national attention.