NPP to present Ernest Kumi’s wife for Akwatia by-election?

Former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Denkyembour in the Eastern Region, Seth Birikorang, has refuted claims that the wife of the late Akwatia MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi, plans to contest in the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries.

This comes after viral posters surfaced, suggesting the widow, Mavis Kumi, intended to stand in a potential by-election.

In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Birikorang — a close family friend — described the reports as false.

He clarified that the widow’s actual name is Mavis Asiamah, not Mavis Kumi, and labelled the circulating poster as fake.

According to him, Mavis has no political ambition and has not shown interest or given consent for anyone to promote her as a candidate.

“It was around 2:00 p.m. on Monday when someone drew my attention to the flier, and the family is really disturbed about the development.

“I want to state categorically that she has no plans to succeed her husband. Under no circumstances will she consider that, so I will urge all those driving that campaign to stop. The family is troubled and yet to come to terms with his sudden death, so it is a difficult moment, and we don’t need this,” he stressed.

Mr. Birikorang further disclosed that the matter had previously been brought up, but the family firmly rejected the idea.

“The family was very upset and warned them to boycott the decision. So they have come to a decision that she will not contest. I’m aware there are discussions ongoing regarding Ernest’s successor, but Mavis is not part of it,” he added.

He concluded by saying that Mavis intends to focus on managing the businesses she shared with her late husband and raising their children.

The late MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi, died on Monday, July 7, 2025, after a short illness.