Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has alleged that legal action initiated by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) contributed to the death of a parliamentary candidate from his party, citing stress and health complications resulting from the case.
Speaking during a campaign stop in Wenchi, in the Bono Region, Dr. Bawumia linked the passing of Ernest Yaw Kumi—the late NPP parliamentary candidate for Akwatia—to a court case filed by the NDC. According to Dr. Bawumia, the case, along with what he characterized as political intimidation, led to severe stress and sleeplessness for Mr. Kumi, ultimately affecting his health.
“The NDC’s court case against the late Ernest Kumi, coupled with intimidation, caused him sleeplessness and raised his pressure,” Dr. Bawumia said in Twi during an address to local chiefs and residents. “Twenty-six days after the court’s final verdict, he died.”
Mr. Kumi passed away shortly after a court ruling that affirmed his candidacy amid a legal challenge from the NDC, which had disputed the legitimacy of his nomination. The nature of the court proceedings has not been independently verified as a direct cause of his death.
The remarks come as the NPP intensifies its campaign efforts ahead of a by-election in Akwatia, following Kumi’s death. Dr. Bawumia, leading a delegation of party executives and opposition MPs, was in Wenchi to bolster support for the NPP’s new parliamentary candidate, Solomon Asumadu.
Dr. Bawumia positioned the by-election as pivotal not only for the NPP's parliamentary majority but also for his broader campaign to secure the party’s nomination for the 2028 presidential race. He emphasized continuity and stability, calling on voters to back the NPP’s development agenda.
