Supreme Court Clears Ernest Kumi of Contempt Conviction
Supreme Court rules High Court had no jurisdiction in election petition case against Kumi
- Supreme Court overturned Ernest Kumi’s contempt conviction by ruling the High Court lacked jurisdiction
- Election petition was filed after the 21-day legal deadline following official result gazettement
- Contempt conviction was quashed due to lack of a fair hearing, violating natural justice
The Supreme Court has overturned the contempt conviction previously handed down to Ernest Kumi, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Akwatia, by the High Court in Koforidua.
Additionally, the apex court prohibited Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe from proceeding with sentencing the MP.
This ruling came after Mr. Kumi filed a judicial review challenging the High Court’s authority to hear the election petition that initially led to the injunction and subsequent contempt ruling. Represented by legal expert Gary Nimako-Marfo, who also serves as the NPP’s Director of Legal Affairs, the defense argued that the High Court lacked jurisdiction.
Nimako-Marfo highlighted that Ghanaian electoral law requires election petitions to be filed within 21 days after certified election results are published in the official gazette.
While the petition was filed on December 31, 2024, the election results were not gazetted until June 6, 2025—far beyond the allowed timeframe. Due to this procedural flaw, the legal team contended that all related court decisions, including the injunction and contempt conviction, were void.
Moreover, Nimako-Marfo criticized the High Court for convicting Kumi of contempt without giving him an opportunity to be heard, labeling this a violation of natural justice.
The opposing counsel for the NDC parliamentary candidate, Henry Boakye Yiadom, disagreed, maintaining that the High Court acted lawfully and that the injunction and contempt ruling were valid.
