The one-week celebration of the late Akwatia Member of Parliament (MP), Ernest Yaw Kumi, is set to come off today, Friday, August 29, according to an official announcement from his family shared on August 11.

The ceremony will take place at the Akyem Wenchi Funeral Grounds in the Eastern Region, at exactly 7:00 am, under the theme “My Hero Lives On.”

The event is expected to draw family members, friends, colleagues, political figures, and community members who will gather to mourn the late lawmaker.

Mr. Kumi passed away on Monday, July 7, 2025, after a brief illness, at the age of 40. He is survived by his wife and children.

A close friend and fellow MP, Collins Adomako-Mensah, did speak emotionally about the family’s grief and urged Ghanaians to keep “the lady and her children” in their prayers. Currently, the number of children the late MP has not been publicly stated yet.

A vigil was held last night in honour of the late Member of Parliament, which saw in attendance, the former Vice President and flagbearer of the 2024 elections, Dr Bawumia, spokesperson for the NPP campaign team in Akwatia, Kwame Owiredu, who was actively involved in organizing the vigil and made public statements urging the opposition NDC to stay away from the vigil night due to its solemn nature.

The leadership of Parliament on Tuesday, July 8, visited the family of the late Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Honourable Ernest Kumi.

The delegation was led by the Leader of the House, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga. In attendance were Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Clerk to Parliament Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, Oppong-Nkrumah, the legislator for Ofoase-Ayirebi Constituency and others.

Clad in black amidst a sorrowful ambience, they signed a book of condolence on behalf of the House.

Parliament adjourned shortly on Monday, July 7, after the Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, sadly informed the House about the sudden death of the Member of Parliament of Akwatia, Hon. Ernest Kumi.

Hon. Ernest Kumi was reported dead in the early hours of Monday morning after a short illness.

According to the Minority Leader, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus, Akwatia Constituency, and the Parliament of Ghana have been hit by the death of Hon. Ernest Kumi.

He made the House aware that Hon. Ernest Kumi was seen going about his parliamentary duties wholeheartedly last week.

The Minority Leader later appealed to the First Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bernard Ahiafor, who was in the Chair, to adjourn the House to allow Members to console themselves.

He later agreed to the appeal of the Minority Leader to adjourn the House and continue public business and proceedings on 8th July.

The House observed a minute of silence in memory of the late MP for Akwatia, Hon. Ernest Kumi, and adjourned.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Regional Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is mourning the passing of Ernest Yaw Kumi.

In a statement on Monday, July 7, the regional leadership described the incident as heartbreaking and sudden.

“This heartbreaking news has come as a great shock to the Party, the people of Akwatia, and the nation at large,” parts of the statement said.

The party further conveyed its condolences to his family, the traditional leaders and people of Akwatia, and the wider NPP fraternity across the nation.

“May the soul of our beloved brother and compatriot rest in perfect peace,” the statement concluded.

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has eulogised the late Kumi as a loyal patriot.

The post read, “I have received with sadness the passing of Hon. Ernest Yaw Kumi, MP, Akwatia Constituency. Ernest was a loyal patriot. My condolences to the immediate family. May his soul rest in peace”.

A close friend of the late Akwatia Member of Parliament (MP), Ernest Yaw Kumi, has revealed that he complained of chest pains before his sudden death on Monday, July 7.

Hid friend, who is the former District Chief Executive for Denkyembour, Seth Birikorang, made this revelation during an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen yesterday.

Recounting their moments together two days before his passing, Mr Birikorang shared that they had travelled together to an event in Takoradi on Friday, July 4, in honour of an invitation by the Effia MP, Isaac Yaw Boamah Nyarko.

They later returned to Accra on Sunday, July 6, in the evening.

“After we got back to Accra on Sunday, around 6:30 pm, he dropped me off at Mallam Junction, and I took a taxi home,” he recalled.

“He even teased me to be careful and to pray no one takes a photo of me in a taxi and posts it online just six months after we lost power. We laughed, and before parting ways, he reminded me we had a meeting at 2 pm the next day and told me to call him if I didn’t hear from him.”

However, Mr. Birikorang said that around 9:00 am on Monday, he received a distressing call from Mr. Kumi’s wife, informing him that the MP had taken ill and was rushed to the Lister Hospital.

“I was told he had been rushed to the hospital around 2:00 am. The doctors tried their best to stabilise him while waiting for a specialist to arrive. When I got there, I met his wife, his mother, and the doctor at the emergency ward—but everyone went silent when they saw me,” he added.

He continued tearfully, “I was confused. Nobody said a word until the doctor asked his wife if he could speak to me. When she agreed, he told me that Yaw was no longer responding to treatment. I suggested trying another drug, but that’s when they broke the news—he was gone.”

According to Mr. Birikorang, a few hours before his demise, Mr Kumi asked his wife to excuse him to rest, only for her to be told later on that her husband had passed between 9:00 and 10:00 am.

“How can a good man die in this painful manner? Someone should tell me this is not true,” he cried.

Mr. Kumi’s sudden death has shocked Parliament and the nation. Many, including political opponents and close friends, have described him as a calm, intelligent, and promising lawmaker.