The Supreme Court has prohibited the Koforidua High Court from sentencing Akwatia MP Ernest Yaw Kumi in a contempt case until it determines an appeal application on the conviction of contempt made against him
By the High Court.
This effectively stays efforts by the high court to sentence the MP following a conviction for contempt, a conviction which is being questioned at the Supreme Court.
Fears that Hon Kumi would be sentenced have now been laid to rest as the Supreme interrogates the processes that took place at the Koforidua High Court.
The Supreme Court has further requested all interested parties to make submissions on whether or not the court should grant Ernest Kumi a hearing while the conviction by the high court subsists. Hearing for this application has been adjourned to March 12.
In the application, Kumi’s counsel, Gary Nimako Marfo, argues that Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amadehe of the Koforidua High Court made a “jurisdictional error of law apparent on the face of the record” by assuming jurisdiction in the Parliamentary Election Petition for the Akwatia Constituency before the Electoral Commission had published the Gazette Notification of the election results.
The Koforidua High Court has convicted Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for contempt of court on February 19, 2025.
The ruling follows his blatant defiance of an interim injunction that barred him from being sworn in as a legislator.
Presiding Judge Justice Senyo Amedahe issued a bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest after he failed to appear before the court for sentencing.
Counsel for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Akwatia Bernard Bediako told the media after proceeding that Ernest Kumi cannot continue to hold himself as an MP.
“A letter emanated from their own caucus and said that he could not come to Parliament because he was undertaking some serious business.
“Now the court said he would not even entertain that letter because if he did, it would amount to an inconsistency on his own part because he has ruled that the gentleman cannot hold himself as a Member of Parliament.”
The court on January 6, 2025, restrained the Mr. Kumi from presenting himself for the swearing-in ceremony, pending the resolution of a legal dispute, but Kumi proceeded to take the oath of office in Parliament despite the court directive.
Justice Amedahe citing overwhelming evidence of willful defiance, ruled that the lawmaker had acted in contempt of court.
With the bench warrant now in effect, authorities are expected to enforce his arrest and ensure compliance with the court’s ruling
