Supreme Court Quashes Contempt Ruling Against Akwatia MP

The Supreme Court of Ghana has overturned a contempt conviction handed down by the Koforidua High Court against the Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Hon. Ernest Yaw Kumi, bringing significant relief to the embattled legislator.

This decision follows an appeal filed by the MP’s legal team, challenging the earlier ruling which found him in contempt of court after he failed to appear during court proceedings earlier this year.

MP Now Free of All Contempt Charges

With this ruling, Hon. Kumi is now legally cleared of all contempt charges and remains a sitting Member of Parliament without any judicial encumbrance related to the earlier conviction.

It will be recalled that the Koforidua High Court issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his repeated absence during a case challenging his election. The court later convicted him of contempt, sparking legal backlash and an appeal to the country’s apex court.

Supreme Court Bars Presiding Judge

In a surprising move, the Supreme Court also issued a directive barring the presiding judge at the Koforidua High Court from continuing with the matter, citing concerns over judicial bias and procedural fairness.

“The conduct of the trial judge raises legitimate questions about the fairness of the proceedings,” the Supreme Court stated, emphasizing the need to uphold public confidence in judicial neutrality.

Substantive Election Petition Still Pending

Despite this legal victory, the substantive case challenging Hon. Kumi’s election as the validly elected MP for Akwatia remains before the court. The petition, filed by his political opponents, seeks to nullify his 2024 parliamentary victory on various grounds.

Legal experts note that while the contempt case has now been resolved, the MP still faces the possibility of being unseated depending on the outcome of the election petition.