A dramatic showdown unfolded in Parliament on Friday, February 21, 2025, as the Majority Caucus blocked Hon. Ernest Yaw Kumi, the embattled MP for Akwatia, from addressing the chamber.
The confrontation erupted when Kumi attempted to deliver a statement, only to be met with fierce resistance from Majority Leader Mr. Mahama Ayariga and his colleagues.
Mr. Ayariga argued that Kumi, recently convicted of contempt by the Koforidua High Court, had no right to speak or even occupy a seat in the House.
The conviction, handed down on February 19, 2025, stemmed from Kumi’s defiance of a court injunction that prohibited him from acting as an MP until a legal challenge to his position was settled.
Despite the ruling, the ‘Akwatia MP’ had taken the oath of office, prompting the contempt charge.
The Majority Leader’s stance sparked a fiery clash between the two parliamentary caucuses, plunging the session into chaos.
With tensions boiling over, Second Deputy Speaker Mr. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, who was presiding, struggled to restore order and ultimately adjourned the sitting.
Kumi’s troubles began when he ignored a High Court directive to refrain from parliamentary duties amid an ongoing dispute over his eligibility.
Although he has reportedly appealed the contempt conviction, the Majority Caucus remains steadfast, insisting he cannot participate until the legal mess is resolved. On Thursday, February 20 Kumi had slipped out of the chamber, only to return and ignite Friday’s uproar.
