Groups in Ga Dangme supporters Vanderpuije

Various groups in Ga Dangme and supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have appealed to the government to expedite action leading to the early voting and confirmation of Dr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije as Municipal Chief Executive of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
The groups which expressed their support for the President’s nominee, however expressed their concern about the deplorable sanitary conditions in the capital as a result of the delay in the election of the Dr Vanderpuije.
The groups included, the Ga Dangme Renaissance Union, the Greater Accra Markets Association, the North American Coordinating Council of NDC and some of Dr Vanderpuije’s colleague teachers at the Accra Teacher Training College.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, the Research and Planning Chairman of Ga Dangme Renaissance Union, Mr Rashad Yasin Ofei Dodoo gave the assurance that with Dr Vanderpuije’s his rich experience as an administrator cum educationalist in the Diaspora and in Ghana,he would certainly live up to the expectations of transforming and modernising the capital.
He said their worry was the delay in the confirmation of Dr Vanderpuije as the Chief Executive because for now, the AMA had come to a standstill and if time was not taken, the city would experience an increase in diseases with the coming of the rains.
According to him, Dr Vanderpuije’s patriotism as a Ghanaian was evident and unquestionable, having worked with city mayors in the Diaspora and his long life experience within the Ghanaian community, contrary to what some people were speculating about him.
“We wish to declare our unequivocal support for Dr Vanderpuije who is a true versatile son of Ga Dangme and a man of the people,” he stated.
The Representative of the Greater Accra Market Association, Madam Mercy Needjan said the association had known Dr Vanderpiuje as an upright man who had contributed to the development of Ghana in diverse ways.“He is known for his communal labour. He is a man of peace and has good relations with market women and men, and was always seeking to promote good standards for our markets,” she stated.
Madam Needjan said the association believed in his knowledge about the management and operations of markets and expressed optimism that when given the nod, he would help improve market facilities in Accra and put in place comprehensive measures to reduce human traffic on the streets.
The members of the North American Coordinating Council of NDC, Mr Tony Amuzu, the Vice- Chairman of the Atlanta Chapter, Mr Kwame Agyeman, Chairman of the Toronto Chapter and Mr Zac Adama, the Council’s Secretary firmly stated their support for the President’s nomination.
“We have known Dr Vanderpuije to be honest, reliable, hardworking, tenacious, truthful, people-oriented, a problem solver and God-fearing,” they said.
They said his capability to work with people could not be underestimated considering his several years of experience, and emphasised that they had confidence in his ability to solve the numerous problems including sanitation, traffic congestion and unemployment that confronted the capital.
“It is our sincere hope that all Assembly members will vote en bloc for Mr Vanderpuije as Mayor for the betterment of Accra,” they added.
The NDC Vice Constituency Chairman of the Odododiodio Constituency, Mr Festus Clifford Bekoe said most members of the constituency have had the privilege to experience the organisational ability of Dr Vanderpuije, who was resident in their community and they were very appreciative of the government’s decision to elect him as the chief executive of AMA.
He refuted allegations purporting that Dr Vanderpuije was not wholly a Ghanaian citizen because he had virtually spent most of his time abroad,saying that to the best of his knowledge Dr Vanderpuije frequently visited the country.
Mr George Commodore, a Former Sub-Metro Chairman who contested the position with Dr Vanderpuije, said he intended to support Dr Vanderpuije because he realised after the vetting that Dr Vanderpuije had good ideas and was far experienced.
“I believe this is not a race or a competition, but an opportunity for us to collectively and in togetherness address the herculean task ahead of us to make a Accra a better place for us,” he stated and urged all and sundry to support Dr Vanderpuije in his quest to make the capital, a city that befits Ghana.

Caption: The Research and Planning Chairman of Ga Dangme Renaissance Union, Mr Rashad Yasin Ofei Dodoo (left) addressing some members of the press at the press conference in Accra.