Claim: Late Ernest Kumi was not mentioned during the NPP National Delegate Conference
Source: Social Media
Verdict: False
Researched by Nusrat Essah
On July 20, 2025, some social media users circulated a claim that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the just-ended National Delegate Conference failed to acknowledge the passing of the Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Ernest Kumi.
According to the claims, the NPP, during the July 19, 2025 conference at the University of Ghana sports stadium, with 6,000 delegates from the 16 regions in attendance, could not observe a minute’s silence for the MP, who passed on July 7, 2025, after a short illness.
“At the just-ended NPP National Conference, the late Ernest Kumi (MP Akwatia) was not mentioned and not to talk of a minute of silence for him. Yet the Minority (caucus) organized a press conference, shedding tears and calling NDC insensitive,” an X user said.
RelatedNews
GhanaFact monitored that the claims stemmed from a question posted by a popular Facebook blogger as to whether the deceased MP was remembered during the gathering.
The question by Kevin Taylor was tweaked into a statement to portray the NPP as being insensitive toward the death of the late MP, and has been repeatedly shared by several social media users, showing a possible coordinated behaviour from specific accounts.
Fact-Check
To verify whether the late Ernest Kumi was acknowledged at any point during the conference, the GhanaFact team watched the full video of the NPP’s National Delegates Conference shared on YouTube by JoyNews and Movement TV.
In the opening session of the event, the First National Vice Chairman of NPP, Danquah Smith Buttey, explicitly acknowledged the passing of Ernest Kumi.
“Before I sit down, please let us observe a minute of silence for our departed brother, Honourable Kumi. So let us rise up, everybody should stand up…May his soul rest in perfect peace,” he said. (17 mins: 04 secs – 17mins: 42 secs)
The NPP Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Divine Otoo Agorhom, during his welcome address as the host of the event and as captured by Movement TV, said:
“Chairman, before I conclude, I wish to express on behalf of my region, our deepest condolences to the family of our late brother, Honorable 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.” (1 hour: 05mins: 15 secs to 1 hour: 05mins: 42 secs)
Verdict
Therefore, the claim circulating on social media that the late Ernest Kumi was not mentioned at the NPP’s National Delegates Conference is false.
