By Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Accra, July 08, GNA – Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and leadership of Minority Caucus in Parliament on Tuesday visited the home of the late Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia, Ernest Yaw Kumi, at Spintex, Accra, to commiserate with the bereaved family.
The former Vice President signed a book of condolence in memory of the late MP.
Dr Bawumia, clad in black attire, expressed shock and sadness over the sudden death of Ernest Yaw Kumi, noting that he (Dr Bawumia) held a discussion with him (Ernest) at his residence in Accra, last Friday, July 4, 2025, and Ernest did not exhibit any signs of ill- health or discomfort.
“Up till now I don’t understand how he died because Ernest visited me last Friday for discussions. He is a good friend of mine and supported me during the elections. I often called him about his court case and share ideas on how to come out successfully,” Dr Bawumia said, in Akan.
The former Vice President expressed his profound condolences to the bereaved family and asked the family to update him and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) about the preparations towards the one-week observance and final funeral rites to participate fully in it.
The family is yet to fix a date for the late MP’s one-week observance.
The family spokesperson said Ernest Yaw Kumi hailed from Akyem Wenchi in the Eastern Region and member of the royal family; therefore, the nuclear family in Accra would travel to his hometown tomorrow, July 9, 2025, to officially announce his demise to the head of the family (Ebusuapanyin).
Earlier on, Mr Seth Ofosu Birikorang, former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Denkyembour District in the Eastern Region, on behalf of the bereaved family, briefed the former Vice President and his delegation about events leading to the death of Ernest Yaw Kumi.
Mr Birikorang explained that Ernest and some MPs went to Takoradi in the Western Region to support the MP for Effia who held a programme at the Takoradi Technical University at the weekend.
Mr Birikorang said he was on board the late MP’s vehicle from Takoradi to Accra and alighted him at Awoshie Junction on Sunday evening around 18:30 hours on July 6 while Ernest continued his journey home.
Then on Monday morning, July 7 around 0900 hours, he received a call from the wife of the late MP that he should come immediately to the Lister Hospital because Ernest had been admitted.
Upon arrival at the health facility, he said, the wife introduced him to the medical doctor as a brother to Ernest….”So, the doctor asked the wife, should I tell him? So, I became alarmed and asked… tell me what? What’s happening? So, I saw Ernest lying on the bed, I held his feet, and he was not responding…the doctor told me he was rushed to the hospital around 0200 hours on Monday morning and was complaining of chest pains.
“The doctor said he gave him all the necessary medications but around 0830 hours, he was not responding to treatment again.
“The doctor told us that Ernest had died…. In fact, I removed my wristwatch and my shirt and hit Ernest’s chest several times but no response…I tried pulling him, but he was heavy,” Birikorang said.
Some current MPs and former MPs as well as party bigwigs who were at the home of the late MP included Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Minority Leader and MP for Effutu, Patricia Appeagyei, Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Asokwa, Frank Annor-Dompreh, Minority Whip and MP for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Habib Iddrisu, First Minority Chief Whip and MP for Tolon, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Second Minority Chief Whip and MP for Weija-Gbawe. And Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, MP for Ofoase Ayirebi and Ranking Member on Economy Committee of Parliament.
Others were Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, former MP for Suame, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP and Titus Glover, former Greater Accra Regional Minister.
The death of Mr Ernest Yaw Kumi was announced on the floor of Parliament on Monday, July 7, 2025, by the Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
Mr Kumi, 41, is a first-term MP who has recently been involved in a high-profile legal tussle over the legitimacy of his election in the December 7, 2024, parliamentary polls.
The Supreme Court recently overturned Mr Kumi’s contempt conviction by a Koforidua High court because of the 2024 parliamentary elections.
Following the announcement of his death on the floor of Parliament on Monday, January 7, Mr Habib Iddrisu, the first deputy Minority Chief Whip, draped Mr Kumi’s seat in Parliament with red cloth, signifying mourning.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba