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Claim: A Facebook user claims the NPP did not acknowledge the death of the late Ernest Kumi at the National Delegates Conference.
Verdict: False. DUBAWA’s checks reveal that the party held a minute’s silence to acknowledge the death of the late Ernest Yaw Kumi, member of parliament for Akwatia, before the conference officially opened.
Full Text
Barely a day after the National Delegates Conference of the New Patriotic Party, organisers of the conference and leaders of the party have come under attack for allegedly failing to honour and remember the late Ernest Kumi, Member of Parliament of Akwatia.
A popular Facebook page, Loud Silence Media, operated by Kevin Taylor, who is affiliated with the governing NDC, stated:
A screenshot of the post. Image source: Facebook
The post has garnered over 5,000 reactions, 100 shares, and more than 1,000 comments.
Another Facebook user, Tijani Maikano, in a post, accused the NPP of being insensitive and failing to acknowledge the late MP at their National Delegates Conference held on July 19, 2025, at the University of Ghana Stadium.
“At the just-ended NPP National Conference, the late Ernest Kumi (MP Akwatia) was not mentioned, not to mention a minute of silence for him. Yet the minority organised a press conference shedding tears and calling NDC insensitive,” Tijani wrote on Facebook.
The same post was shared in a screenshot by an X user here, captioned “Talk of insensitivity.”
The comments appear to be a reaction to the minority’s decision to walk out of parliament during parliamentary sessions on July 17, 2025, in protest against what they considered an “insensitive and untimely” early request for a by-election by the majority leader, Mahama Ayariga.
Mr. Ernest Kumi passed away on July 7, 2025, sending shockwaves through the Ghanaian political scene.
So was the late MP mentioned and remembered during the National Delegates Conference held over the weekend?
DUBAWA decided to investigate this claim due to its potential to misinform.
Verification
DUBAWA thoroughly reviewed the proceedings for the NPP’s National Delegates Conference, held on July 19, 2025, to verify this claim. The entire conference, uploaded on JoyNews’ YouTube channel, can be found here.
We found that before the conference was officially opened, Danquah Smith Buttey, the first vice chairperson, observed a minute’s silence, calling on the entire audience to stand.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome all of you to today’s conference. I hope and believe that before we leave here, we will become united and peaceful. Before I sit down, please let us observe a minute’s silence for our departed brother, the Honourable Kumi. So let us rise!” Buttey said. Find this from 16:35 to 17:47.
Also, beyond the minute of silence, some party executives used their speeches to pay tribute to the late MP. Divine Otoo Agorhom, Greater Accra Regional Chairperson of the NPP, honoured Kumi’s memory during his address.
“To the family of our late brother, Honourable Ernest Kumi, a patriot whose life exemplifies the values we gather here to uphold—may he rest in perfect peace. To the people of Akwatia, we stand with you in this difficult time… This party is your home. And together we will rise again,” he said. Find this from 3:14:45 to 3:15:36 of the over 7-hour video footage of the delegates’ conference as uploaded on Asaase Radio’s Facebook page.
Conclusion
The claim that the NPP did not acknowledge the late Ernest Yaw Kumi during the National Delegates Conference is false.
