Ghana’s Supreme Court has overturned a contempt conviction against Ernest Kumi, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Akwatia, marking a major legal victory in a case that has stirred debate over judicial fairness and electoral law.
In a decisive ruling, the country’s highest court not only quashed the contempt charge but also barred Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe of the Koforidua High Court from proceeding to sentence the MP. The decision stems from a judicial review application filed by Mr. Kumi’s legal team, led by Gary Nimako-Marfo who also serves as the NPP’s Director of Legal Affairs.
At the heart of the case is a contested election petition that led to an earlier injunction against Mr. Kumi and subsequently a contempt conviction, which his lawyers say was flawed both in procedure and principle.
Speaking after the ruling, Mr. Nimako-Marfo argued that the High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the election petition in the first place.
He further criticised the High Court’s handling of the contempt proceedings, stating that Mr. Kumi was convicted without being given the chance to respond, a move he called a “clear violation of natural justice.”
However, opposing counsel for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Henry Boakye Yiadom, defended the lower court’s actions, insisting the process followed proper legal channels and that the contempt conviction was valid.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to have broader implications for how election petitions are handled in the future, especially regarding timelines and procedural fairness.
For now, Ernest Kumi walks free not just legally, but politically strengthened, while legal analysts say the decision highlights the delicate balance between the judiciary’s authority and constitutional safeguards for fair trial and due process.
