Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia in Ghana’s Eastern Region, was confirmed dead on July 7, 2025, at the age of 41 after a brief illness. His sudden passing has shocked his constituents, colleagues, and the political community.
Background and Political Career of Ernest Kumi
Ernest Kumi was a first-term MP who won the Akwatia seat in the fiercely contested December 2024 general elections. He secured 19,269 votes, defeating the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Henry Yiadom Boakye, who garnered 17,206 votes. Kumi was a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
His victory was mired in controversy and legal disputes. Following the election, the NDC challenged the results in court, leading to an interim injunction barring Kumi from being sworn in as MP. Defying this injunction, Kumi was charged with contempt of court, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest in February 2025.
However, in a significant legal victory, the Supreme Court quashed the contempt conviction in June 2025, ruling that the High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the election petition because the Electoral Commission had not published the official gazette notification of the parliamentary results. This ruling restored Kumi’s status as the legitimate MP for Akwatia and barred further sentencing.
Circumstances Surrounding the death of Ernest Kumi
The exact cause of Ernest Kumi’s death has not been officially disclosed by medical authorities or his family. Some reports indicate he died after a short illness, with one video source mentioning chest pain and possible heart-related issues.
However, there are allegations from his uncle and NPP constituency secretary, Eugene Opoku-Acheampong, who claims that Kumi did not die a natural death but was a victim of a spiritually orchestrated attack driven by envy over his parliamentary seat. He also alleged that discussions about a by-election to replace Kumi were already underway even before his death.
Political and Public Reactions
The news of Kumi’s death has elicited shock and mourning within Parliament and the NPP. The First Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, draped Kumi’s parliamentary seat in red cloth as a mark of respect. Formal statements and funeral arrangements were pending at the time of reporting.
What Next for the Akwatia Parliamentary Seat?
Following the death of an MP, Ghanaian law requires a by-election to fill the vacant seat. Discussions about the timing and process of the by-election for Akwatia are expected to begin soon, amid the political sensitivity of the constituency.
Summary
- Ernest Yaw Kumi, aged 41, MP for Akwatia, died on July 7, 2025, after a brief illness; cause undisclosed.
- He won a highly contested 2024 election amid legal battles that culminated in a Supreme Court ruling affirming his legitimacy.
- Allegations of foul play in his death have been made by family members, citing political envy.
- Parliament and the NPP are yet to issue formal funeral announcements; the Akwatia seat will soon be subject to a by-election.
Ernest Kumi’s death marks a significant moment in Ghanaian politics, especially given the controversies that surrounded his election and the unresolved questions about the circumstances of his passing.
