A powerful delegation from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to observe the 40-day death rites of the late Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Member of Parliament for Akwatia.
The mournful occasion, which took place in Wenchi, was the first of several funeral-related events that will lead up to the last burial ceremony, which is planned for December of this year.
Prominent members of the NPP, including former vice president Dr. Mahamud Bawumia, former energy minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, minority leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Patricia Opoku Agyei, and prominent members of the Eastern Region’s parliament, including Samuel Awuku, Koojo Oppong Nkrumah, Michael Okyere Baafi, and Abena Osei Asare, were present with the former president.
Hundreds of people attended the funeral, including members of the NPP Party and locals.
In addition, Dr. Asumadu Appiah, the Wenchi Chief who also serves as Oseawuhene and Chief Mourner, was there to pay tribute to his late Wenchi native Ernest Kumi.
In the midst of the sorrow, NPP national leaders took advantage of the opportunity to mobilize supporters of Solomon Asumadu, the party’s parliamentary candidate, and exhort voters to support the NPP in the next by-election to keep the Wenchi seat.
At Thursday night’s vigil in memory of the deceased MP, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua gave an explanation of Solomon Asumadu’s motivation for running.
“Solomon Asumadu has a mining background. When elected, he will serve on the mining committee to help streamline mining policies in Parliament. I believe his technical expertise will enable him to make meaningful contributions to policymaking in Parliament. Retaining the seat is also a way to honour the memory of Ernest Yaw Kumi,” he stated.
The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and National Organiser Joseph Yamin, also attended the burial ceremonies in Wenchi to express their condolences to the NPP and pay their respects to the late MP Ernest Yaw Kumi as a sign of bipartisan unity.
At the Wenchi funeral ground, tension between NPP and NDC supporters led to a brief altercation that lasted several minutes until NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah arrived.
Source: newsthemegh.com