Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Ernest Kumi, has been confirmed dead at the age of 40.
The news was verified by a source close to ABC News GH on Monday, July 7, 2025.
Kumi, a prominent figure in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), secured the Akwatia seat in the 2024 elections with 19,269 votes, defeating NDC’s Henry Yiadom Boakye.
His rise in politics was marked by a turbulent legal challenge which culminated in a Supreme Court victory just a month before his death.
Kumi’s brief tenure was overshadowed by a contempt conviction in February 2025 by the Koforidua High Court for defying an injunction against his swearing-in.
A bench warrant was later issued for his arrest after he failed to appear for sentencing.
However, the Supreme Court overturned the conviction in June in a 4–1 ruling, citing judicial bias and clearing his name.
A seasoned academic, Kumi held multiple degrees, including an MSc in Defence and International Politics and an LLB, and served on both the Lands and Natural Resources and House Committees in Parliament.
