Ernest Kumi

Ernest Yaw Kumi (5 December 1984 – 7 July 2025) was a New Patriotic Party (NPP) politician whose brief time as MP for Akwatia in the Eastern Region was dominated by a court battle over his right to sit, and cut short by his death at 40.

Shipping, law and defence studies

Born at Akyem Wenchi, Kumi studied ports and shipping administration at the Regional Maritime University, graduating in 2009. He went on to an MBA in corporate governance at the University of Professional Studies, an LLB from Mountcrest University College and an MSc in defence and international politics from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College.

Winning Akwatia

In December 2024 he unseated the NDC's Henry Yiadom Boakye in a close race, one of the few NPP gains in an election the party lost heavily. His victory was immediately challenged. A High Court injunction stopped his swearing-in in January 2025, and in February he was convicted of contempt. In June 2025 the Supreme Court overturned that ruling by four votes to one, finally clearing him to take his seat.

Death

Only weeks later, on 7 July 2025, Kumi died after a short illness. The by-election held on 2 September 2025 was won by Bernard Bediako Baidoo of the NDC.