Ernest Kumi, an Akwatia MP, was found guilty of contempt; the court issued a bench warrant.

Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Member of Parliament for Akwatia, was found guilty of contempt of court by the Koforidua, Eastern Region, High Court. The decision comes after he disregarded a temporary order that prevented him from taking the oath of office as a lawmaker. After Kumi did not show up for sentence, the presiding judge, Justice Senyo Amedahe, also issued a bench warrant for his arrest. In order to settle a legal disagreement, the court had previously barred the MP from appearing in person for swearing-in. Kumi still went ahead and took the oath of office in Parliament in defiance of this order.

The court determined that the member had acted in contempt, citing a wealth of evidence of deliberate disobedience. The judge ruled that Kumi had disrespected the court's authority and rejected attempts by the Minority Caucus in Parliament to use an official letter to explain his absence from the session. Authorities are anticipated to carry out his arrest and guarantee adherence to the court's decision now that the bench warrant is in force.

Source: CitiNewsRoom