NPP’s Ernest Kumi Dies Months After Supreme Court Victory

The Member of Parliament for Walewale, Dr. Mahama Tiah Kabiru, has confirmed the passing of Ernest Kumi, MP for Akwatia, to 3News’ parliamentary correspondent on Monday, July 7, 2025.

Kumi, aged 40, was seen as a rising star in the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He secured the Akwatia seat in the 2024 general elections with 19,269 votes,

narrowly defeating the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Henry Yiadom Boakye, who polled 17,206 votes.

His journey to Parliament had been eventful. In 2023, he won the NPP parliamentary primaries by unseating then-incumbent MP Ama Sey, securing his party’s nomination.

However, his term in Parliament was marred by legal challenges. In February 2025, the Koforidua High Court found him guilty of contempt for defying an injunction that barred him from being sworn in.

He later failed to appear for sentencing, prompting the court to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

In a dramatic legal turnaround, the Supreme Court in June 2025 overturned the conviction in a 4–1 majority decision, citing judicial bias in the earlier ruling. This verdict cleared the way for Kumi to fully return to his parliamentary duties.

Prior to entering politics, Kumi had a distinguished academic and professional background. He held an MSc in Defence and International Politics from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (2022), an MBA in Corporate Governance from the University of Professional Studies (2014), an LLB from Mountcrest University College (2019), and a BSc in Ports and Shipping Administration from the Regional Maritime University (2009).

In Parliament, he served diligently on both the Lands and Natural Resources Committee and the House Committee.

As of now, the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear