The late Member of Parliament for Akwatia, who died Monday just months into his first term, spent much of his short-lived tenure locked in legal battles that one colleague said left him emotionally drained and politically stymied.

“Today it’s the High Court, tomorrow it’s the Supreme Court,” said Sammi Awuku, MP for Akuapem North, in an interview Monday on Channel One Newsroom. “My brother did not even enjoy the benefit of serving his people with a clear mind. He was just stressed.”

Kumi, a first-time legislator elected on the ticket of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), won a contentious race in December 2024 that quickly became the subject of a legal showdown. The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) challenged the results, alleging irregularities and vote-buying in the Eastern Region constituency of Akwatia—a key battleground in that election cycle.

Shortly after the vote, the Koforidua High Court issued an interim injunction barring Kumi from presenting himself as MP. His decision to defy the order led to contempt proceedings, a bench warrant, and weeks of legal uncertainty. In a dramatic reversal, Ghana’s Supreme Court on June 11 overturned the High Court’s ruling and quashed the contempt conviction—a legal victory that came just weeks before his death.

According to Mr. Awuku, the legal turmoil exacted a heavy toll. “Every day, he was being dragged to court,” he said. “It was very draining for him. I remember one time he said to me, ‘Commander, I am tired.’”

Kumi had also confided plans to establish a charitable foundation aimed at supporting youth and development initiatives in Akwatia. But the persistent court battles stalled those efforts, Awuku said.

His passing leaves a gap in both the New Patriotic Party and Ghana’s Parliament, where colleagues described him as a determined if beleaguered figure—committed to his constituents even under intense legal pressure.

“He never had the benefit of concentrating on his people,” Awuku said. “But he fought to the end.”

Source:TheDotNews