The seat of Ernest Kumi draped in red cloth
The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Ernest Yaw Kumi, passed away on July 7, 2025, after a short illness.
Kumi, a first-time MP elected on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), had been present in Parliament just the previous week.
He had recently been at the center of a high-profile legal battle over the legitimacy of his parliamentary seat. His sudden death comes just weeks after the Supreme Court overturned his contempt conviction related to the disputed 2024 parliamentary election results.
As a solemn tribute, the First Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, draped Kumi’s seat in red cloth following the announcement of his passing on Monday, July 7.
What does the law says about his replacement as MP for Akwatia
According to Article 112, Clause 5 of Ghana’s Constitution, “Whenever a vacancy occurs in Parliament, the Clerk of Parliament shall notify the Electoral Commission in writing within seven days after becoming aware that the vacancy has occurred; and a by-election shall be held within thirty days after the vacancy occurred, except that where the vacancy occurred through the death of a member, the by-election shall be held within sixty days after the occurrence of the vacancy.”
In the coming days, the Clerk of Parliament is expected to formally notify the Electoral Commission of the MP’s death.
A by-election will then be scheduled and held within sixty days, as mandated by law.
The NPP will select a candidate to contest the seat against nominees from other political parties.
However, historically, in Ghanaian politics, it is not uncommon for the widows of deceased MPs to be nominated by their parties to contest the vacant seat, a trend that may influence the party’s decision in this case.
AM/KA
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