By Daniel Bampoe
The Akwatia constituency in the Eastern Region and the entire nation are reeling from the unexpected death of Ernest Yaw Kumi, Member of Parliament for Akwatia, who passed away in the early hours of Monday, July 7, 2025.
He reportedly died from severe chest pains after being rushed to Lister Hospital in Accra by his family.
According to close family sources, Ernest Kumi began experiencing discomfort late Sunday night while studying for a law examination scheduled for Monday at the Ghana School of Law.
He had reportedly confided in his wife about the chest pains while revising.
His condition worsened around 2:00 a.m., prompting an emergency dash to Lister Hospital.
Despite several hours of medical attention, doctors at the facility confirmed he had passed away by 10:00 a.m.
His body has since been transferred to the Lashibi Funeral Home.
Sources close to him say he had only returned to Accra from Takoradi on Sunday evening, where he had attended a political program.
His sudden passing has sent shockwaves across the political establishment, especially the New Patriotic Party (NPP), under whose ticket he contested and won the Akwatia seat in the December 2024 general elections.
It also comes exactly six months to the day he was officially sworn into Parliament.
In Parliament, the news was met with disbelief and heartbreak.
During Monday’s sitting, the First Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, draped Kumi’s seat in red cloth — a solemn symbol of mourning. Parliament adjourned sitting for the day after Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin officially announced the tragic development.
“God knows best,” Afenyo-Markin said, delivering a heartfelt tribute that described Kumi as a rising star and a dedicated lawmaker.
Other MPs gathered around his empty chair, visibly shaken by the loss.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh, MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri and the Majority Chief Whip, also spoke publicly, confirming on Asempa FM that Kumi was scheduled to write a moot court exam on the day he died.
“It is too painful,” he said, fighting back emotion. “He was full of promise.”
In a statement issued shortly after the news broke, the NPP’s Eastern Regional Executive Committee described Kumi’s death as a “devastating blow to the party, the people of Akwatia, and the nation.”
The party paid tribute to his character and dedication, noting that he remained committed to his legal studies and constituency development even amid political and legal turbulence.
“He believed deeply in the NPP’s vision and worked tirelessly to serve his people,” the statement read.
Ernest Kumi’s short tenure was marred by legal battles that challenged his election.
However, just last month, the Supreme Court ruled in his favour nullifying a contempt conviction and affirming that the High Court had acted outside its jurisdiction in a related election petition filed by the opposition.
The ruling brought an end to one of the most controversial electoral disputes in recent history.
Despite the legal challenges, Ernest Kumi remained determined to serve and complete his legal education — a journey he tragically could not finish.
His death has automatically triggered Article 112(5) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates that a by-election must be held within 60 days of a parliamentary vacancy resulting from death.
The Electoral Commission is now expected to initiate the process in the coming days once officially notified by the Clerk of Parliament.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced, but the NPP has said it will consult with the family and local stakeholders in Akwatia.
