By Gifty Boateng
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for the Akwatia constituency, in the Eastern Region, Ernest Yaw Kumi, has reportedly died at 40.
This means that the Electoral Commission (EC) will be required to hold a by-election in the diamond rich constituency.
The first-time lawmaker, according to media reports died today Monday July 7, 2025. The cause of his sudden passing is not readily available.
No family source has confirmed the news but his colleague, Dr. Mahama Tiah Kabiru, MP for Walewale confirmed this to 3news.
The deceased who was member of the NPP communication team, entered parliament in January for the first under controversial circumstances. His seat was one of the constituencies the NDC challenged in court.
His election in 2024 was challenged by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Koforidua High Court.
He won the election with 19,269 votes, defeating the incumbent and NDC candidate, Henry Yiadom Boakye, who polled 17,206 votes
At a point in the court proceeding, he was convicted for contempt after he flouted an injunction that was supposed to bar him from going to parliament, on the day the 9th Parliament was sworn in on January 7.
A bench warrant was issued after he failed to appear for sentencing. On the day of his arrest, he was seen in a video hurriedly vacating his seat in parliament and walking out of the chamber.
In June 2025, the Supreme Court overturned his conviction in a 4–1 majority decision, ruling that the initial judgment was affected by judicial bias.
This paved the way for him to call himself the substantive MP earning the bragging right to serve his full 4-year term.