A High Court in Koforidua, Eastern Region, has issued an interim injunction restraining Ernest Yaw Kumi, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate in the 2024 parliamentary election for the Akwatia Constituency, from holding himself out as the elected Member of Parliament for the constituency.
The order, granted on 2 January 2025, was issued following a legal petition filed by Henry Boakye-Yiadom, NDC’s parliamentary candidate in the election against Ernest Kumi, the Electoral Commission (EC), and the Clerk to Parliament, seeking an injunction to prevent Mr Kumi’s swearing-in.
Mr Kumi was declared the winner by the EC three weeks ago. The declaration was made at the National Police Training School in Tesano, Accra, after multiple failed attempts to finalise the results in the Eastern Region. Ernest Kumi garnered 19,269 votes, while the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Henry Yiadom Boakye had 17,206 votes.
But the petitioner alleges irregularities in the electoral process and has sought legal redress under the Representation of the People Act, 1992 (PNDC Law 284).
After hearing the case, the court issued an order prohibiting the respondents, including the Electoral Commission and the Clerk to Parliament, from recognising, swearing in, or gazetting Ernest Yaw Kumi as the Member of Parliament for Akwatia until the matter is resolved.
The court emphasised that the order is temporary and will remain in force for 10 days. This period is expected to allow for further legal deliberations on the case.
The Akwatia parliamentary seat has been a subject of contention following the December 2024 elections. The petitioner claims the election results were compromised, and the legal battle seeks to challenge the validity of the outcome.
The constituency was one of four constituencies, alongside Suhum, Nsawam, and Fanteakwa North, whose results had to be relocated to the National Police Training School for final re-collation.
