Ernest Kumi, Member of Parliament for Akwatia in Ghana’s Eastern Region, has been confirmed dead.
Kumi, 40, was a rising star in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and won the Akwatia seat in the 2024 general elections with 19,269 votes, defeating the NDC’s Henry Yiadom Boakye. His political ascent began in 2023 when he unseated incumbent Ama Sey during the NPP primaries.
His time in Parliament, however, was marked by legal controversy. In February 2025, the Koforidua High Court convicted him of contempt for defying an injunction that barred his swearing-in. A bench warrant was issued after he failed to appear for sentencing. That ruling was later overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2025, in a 4–1 decision citing judicial bias—clearing the way for Kumi to resume his role as MP.
Despite the legal battles, Kumi was seen as a determined and promising legislator. In Parliament, he served on the Lands and Natural Resources Committee and the House Committee.
Before entering politics, Kumi built a strong academic and professional résumé. He earned an MSc in Defence and International Politics from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (2022), an MBA in Corporate Governance from UPSA (2014), an LLB from Mountcrest University College (2019), and a BSc in Ports and Shipping Administration from Regional Maritime University (2009).
The cause of his death has not yet been made public. His passing is a significant loss to both his constituency and the NPP.
