Ernest Kumi’s status as MP for Akwatia has been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia, Ernest Kumi.
The MP was convicted of contempt of court by a High Court in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
However, the MP filed an application for the apex court to set aside the contempt conviction handed to him by the Koforidua High Court and to quash an interim injunction that bars him from acting as the elected representative of the constituency.
He also wanted the Supreme Court to prohibit the judge who convicted him, Justice Emmanuel Seny, from proceeding with sentencing.
The court, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, by a 4–1 majority, granted the MP’s applications.
The court quashed the contempt application and the ruling of the High Court, and all the proceedings on it.
This implies that the Akwatia legislator is no longer barred from holding himself out as a Member of Parliament.
The court also ruled that Justice Emmanuel Seny should no longer sit on the case.
Background:
A Koforidua High Court issued a bench warrant for Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia in the Eastern Region, after convicting him of contempt of court.
According to multiple reports, the bench warrant was issued after Kumi failed to appear in court.
The MP had disobeyed an interim injunction issued on January 7, 2025, which barred him from being sworn in and admitted as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Akwatia Constituency due to an ongoing legal dispute over his election.
Despite the court order, Kumi presented himself in Parliament and was sworn in on January 7, 2025.
Presiding judge, Justice Senyo Amedahe, ruled that the convict had consistently failed to appear in court throughout the contempt case.
He also dismissed a letter from the Minority Caucus, which argued that the MP was occupied with parliamentary duties and, therefore, could not attend court sessions.
The judge rejected the letter, stating that accepting it would contradict his ruling.
BAI/AE
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