By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Majority Members of Parliament (MPs) on Friday, February 21, 2025, prevented the convicted Akwatia lawmaker, Mr. Ernest Yaw Kumi, from making a statement on the floor of Parliament.
The Majority Caucus insisted that Mr. Kumi could not sit in the chamber, let alone make a statement, because he had been convicted of contempt by a High Court.
The embattled MP for Akwatia, Mr. Kumi, attempted to make a statement on the floor of the House a day after sneaking out of the chamber, but Majority Leader Mr. Mahama Ayariga fiercely opposed the move.
According to Mr. Ayariga, the Akwatia lawmaker had been convicted of contempt by a Koforidua High Court, pending sentencing, and should not be allowed to make the statement.
The Majority Leader’s insistence led to heated exchanges between members of both caucuses, forcing parliamentary proceedings to end abruptly.
Due to the intensity of the exchanges, the Second Deputy Speaker, Mr. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, who was presiding over the proceedings, had no option but to adjourn the sitting.
The High Court in Koforidua, on February 19, 2025, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the Akwatia MP after convicting him of contempt of court.
The ruling stemmed from Mr. Kumi’s decision to continue holding himself out as an MP despite an interim injunction barring him from being sworn into office.
The court had earlier directed him to refrain from assuming a parliamentary role until a legal dispute was resolved. However, he disobeyed the order and took the oath of office in Parliament.
Although Mr. Kumi is said to have appealed against the contempt conviction issued by the High Court in Koforidua, the Majority Caucus, led by its leader, prevented him from making his statement.
This version ensures grammatical correctness, improves readability, and maintains the intended meaning. Let me know if you need any further refinements!
One Response