Resign before things get worse

Akwatia MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi [L] and legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu

After being found guilty of contempt of court, Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Member of Parliament for Akwatia, has been urged by private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu to step down in order to prevent future humiliation of the court.

Kpebu claims that Mr. Kumi’s willful disobedience of a court order and his subsequent activities have damaged the judiciary’s reputation, which could lead to a harsh punishment.

This comes after the Koforidua High Court issued an arrest order for the MP on charges of contempt of court. After Mr. Kumi intentionally disregarded an interim injunction that forbade him from appearing to be sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Akwatia, the court, presided over by Justice Senyo Amedahe, declared him guilty.

In spite of the court’s directive, Kumi proceeded to be sworn in and has continued to hold himself out as an MP.

Following Mr. Kumi’s absence at sentence, the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest after determining that he had disregarded its orders.

On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, Martin Kpebu stressed on Eyewitness News that Mr. Kumi’s conduct were a flagrant disregard for the court and might result in a severe verdict.

In order to prevent more legal repercussions and public humiliation, he suggested that the MP step down right away.

“He can only continue to hold himself if the sentence is mild. I say so because I am trying to imagine, how will the judge give him a life sentence when he clearly brought the authority of the court into such great disrepute. Because there was a court order, he ignored it and he kept going to parliament and holding himself as a member of parliament, this is really tough.

“Because if we are using the normal measures, the judge may say that he is going to four years or the rest of the term of parliament, though it is harsh to give. Otherwise, how will the judge go to restore the authority of the court? The judge will likely not give a sentence of less than one month for him to serve that term and come back to continue in parliament.

“It will make a mockery of the proceedings. So, unless something else happens behind the scenes. He really has to resign if he wants to avoid the situation of continuing to embarrass the court,” he stated.

Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, said the caucus will take action to make sure Ernest Yaw Kumi, the MP for Akwatia, abides by the law.

Speaking to the media, Afenyo-Markin called the court’s order unjust and inadequate, adding that before an official position is formed on the issue, leadership has not yet received a copy of the court’s decision and related orders.

KA

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