Supreme Court Quashes Contempt Conviction Against Akwatia MP Ernest Kumi
Ghana’s Supreme Court has overturned the contempt conviction of Ernest Yaw Kumi, the New Patriotic Party MP for Akwatia, and nullified the bench warrant issued against him. The decision restores his full freedom to serve in Parliament. 1. Background of the Case The case stemmed from a February 19, 2025 High Court ruling by Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe, which found Kumi in contempt for defying an injunction regarding his swearing-in. The court also issued a bench warrant for his arrest. 2. Supreme Court’s Unanimous Reversal On June 11, 2025, a panel of five Supreme Court justices—led by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang—ruled 4–1 in favor of Kumi. The conviction, bench warrant, and related proceedings were all quashed. Justice Pwamang’s dissent was the only disagreement. 3. Reasoning Behind the Ruling Kumi’s lawyers argued that Justice Amedahe had no jurisdiction over the election […]