The Minister for Interior, Mubarak Muntaka, has urged security personnel who will be deployed to oversee the upcoming by-election in Akwatia constituency, Eastern Region, to remain alert while executing their duties.

He urged them to reflect on the recent violence that occurred during the parliamentary election rerun in the Ablekuma North constituency and work proactively to prevent a recurrence.

According to him, the government will work to ensure that such dramatic events do not repeat itself in future elections.

The Minister made these remarks at the government accountability series in Accra on Monday, July 14.

“This is also a wake-up call for our security agencies to know that probably what happened [in Ablekuma North]…gives our security agencies the opportunity to even plan better towards Akwatia.

“All I can assure the people of Akwatia is that we will use Ablekuma North as a case study to review how we operate in Akwatia—to make sure that the citizens are free to cast their votes and express their will without fear or favour,” Muntaka added.

A by-election is expected to be conducted in the coming days for the Akwatia constituency, following the death of its Member of Parliament (MP), Ernest Yaw Kumi.

The Akwatia MP was reported dead on Monday, July 7. Last month, the apex court overturned a ruling by the Koforidua High Court that convicted Mr Kumi of contempt of court.

The court, on Wednesday, June 11, by a 4–1 majority, granted the legislator's application to overturn the High Court's ruling.

On January 3, the Koforidua High Court issued an interim injunction restraining Ernest Yaw Kumi from being sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Akwatia.

The injunction stemmed from a legal challenge by Henry Boakye-Yiadom, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate and former MP, who contested the election results.

Boakye-Yiadom had filed a lawsuit against the Electoral Commission (EC), Kumi, and the Clerk to Parliament, disputing the outcome of the polls. Official results had declared Kumi victorious with 19,269 votes, while Boakye-Yiadom secured 17,206 votes.

Despite the court’s order, Kumi went ahead with his swearing-in on January 7, 2025. His legal team, led by Lawyer Gary Nimako, later sought to overturn the injunction, but the court dismissed their application.

On February 19, 2025, the Koforidua High Court issued a bench warrant for Kumi’s arrest, citing his absence from contempt proceedings and his failure to comply with the earlier injunction.

Reacting to the development, the Minority in Parliament has condemned the court’s decision, arguing that it was excessive. Speaking to the media, Second Deputy Minority Whip Jerry Ahmed Shaib expressed strong disagreement with the ruling.

In Parliament, Mr Kumi who was a first-time member in the 9th Parliament, served on both the Lands and Natural Resources Committee and the House Committee.