Supreme Court stops Koforidua High Court from sentencing Akwatia MP

Accra, Ghana- In a dramatic turn of events, the Supreme Court of Ghana has intervened to halt the sentencing of Akwatia MP Ernest Yaw Kumi by the Koforidua High Court in a contempt case. This decision was made with a 4-1 majority vote, with Justice Gabriel Pwamang being the sole dissenting voice.

The contempt conviction stems from Kumi's alleged defiance of an interim injunction that barred him from being sworn in as a legislator. Despite the court's directive, Kumi took the oath of office in Parliament, leading to the contempt charge.

Kumi's counsel, Gary Nimako Marfo, has argued that the Koforidua High Court made a "jurisdictional error of law apparent on the face of the record" by assuming jurisdiction in the Parliamentary Election Petition before the Electoral Commission had published the Gazette Notification of the election results 

The Supreme Court's decision effectively suspends the high court's ruling, pending the final determination of a motion to quash the ruling. The court has requested all interested parties to make submissions on whether or not to grant Kumi a hearing while the conviction by the high court subsists, with the hearing adjourned to March 12