He told me, commander, I am tired – Sammi Awuku drops BOMBSHELL on Ernest Kumi’s death

Akuapem North Member of Parliament, Sammi Awuku, has paid an emotional tribute to his late colleague, Ernest Yaw Kumi, the MP for Akwatia, whose sudden death has left both Parliament and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in mourning.

Speaking on Channel One’s Newsroom on Monday, July 7, Awuku expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the young lawmaker, lamenting how relentless court battles and legal pressure had robbed Kumi of the chance to serve his people wholeheartedly.

According to Awuku, Kumi faced continuous legal challenges from the moment he won his seat. These battles, he said, had a significant emotional and psychological toll on the young MP, who had high hopes and dreams for his constituents.

“I can tell you for a fact that the gentleman was just stressed,” Awuku 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 described how the courtroom drama left little to no space for Kumi to settle into his role and focus on development issues in Akwatia.

“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.’”

Awuku also disclosed that Ernest Kumi had shared with him plans to launch a foundation aimed at supporting the youth and vulnerable groups in Akwatia. Unfortunately, due to the unending legal distractions, the vision never materialized.

He recalled how passionate and determined Kumi was about serving his people, but the constant courtroom distractions meant his energy was consumed by defending his legitimacy as MP rather than executing the developmental projects he had envisioned.

Kumi’s death, Awuku said, has left a deep void—not only in Parliament but within the NPP, where he was admired by many for his resilience, intellect, and dedication to public service.

For many within the party and his constituency, Ernest Yaw Kumi represented a promising future that was tragically cut short.