Akwatia MP Ernest Kumi Convicted Over Contempt Of Court, Judge Issues Arrest Warrant

• Akwatia MP Ernest Yaw Kumi has been convicted of contempt by the high court in Koforidua
• Kumi defied the injunction meant to keep him from being sworn in as a legislator in the current Parliament
• The injunction order was granted on January 2, 2025, following a petition filed by one Henry Boakye-Yiadom

The high court in Koforidua has convicted Akwatia MP Ernest Yaw Kumi for contempt of court.

The ruling followed the interim injunction barring Kumi from being sworn in as a legislator in the current Parliament, which he ignored.

Starr News reported that the judge also issued a bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest after he failed to appear before the court for sentencing.

The court had earlier restrained the MP from presenting himself for swearing-in, pending the resolution of the legal dispute.

Citing evidence of willful defiance, the court ruled that the lawmaker had acted in contempt.

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Attempts by the Minority Caucus in Parliament to justify his absence from the hearing through an official letter were dismissed.

The injunction order was granted on January 2, 2025, following a petition filed by Henry Boakye-Yiadom, the National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate in Akwatia, which was in line with the Representation of the People Act, 1992 (PNDC Law 284). Other areas like Nsawam suffered similar legal contentions.

Boakye-Yiadom is claiming electoral infractions in the process that saw Kumi win the parliamentary election with 19,269 votes to his 17,206 votes.

The declaration was made at the National Police Training School in Tesano, Accra, after multiple failed attempts to finalise the results in the Eastern Region.

Ernest Kumi sneaks out of Parliament

After the arrest warrant was issued, Joy News reported that Kumi entered Parliament but quietly snuck out after a few minutes.

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Joy News captured the MP packing his items and leaving the chamber barely a minute after he entered the chamber of Parliament.

Kumi also reportedly snapped at a Joy News reporter.

The beginning of the ninth Parliament

YEN.com.gh reported that the acting Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, chaired the first sitting of the Ninth Parliament on Tuesday, January 7.

There are 274 out of 276 constituencies that were submitted to Parliament as having duly elected candidates for Parliament.

Ablekuma North and Akwatia were the two seats with issues with the eligibility of their candidates. Djietror served Kumi with a warning and injunction during the proceedings.

The ninth Parliament has the NDC with a commanding majority of 183 seats, while the NPP has 88 seats.

Source: YEN.com.gh