AMA boss Vanderpuije in alleged shooting rage

Metropolitan Chief Execu­tive (MCE) of Accra, Alfred Oko Van­derpuije, is alleged to have ordered his bodyguard to impound a vehicle in a typical Hollywood style amid shooting.

The incident took place in front of the famous Mantse Agbonaa Park in Jamestown, Accra, in broad daylight

Even though attempts to speak to the victim, Lawyer Bruce Thompson, was unsuccessful, eyewitness accounts say the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) boss and his siren blaring con­voy were driving from the Lavender Hill area on the old Winneba Road at Korle Gonno to the AMA headquarters when they accosted the driver.

Midway in the journey, Dr Oko Van­derpuije is said to have stopped the driver of a wine-coloured Pontiac Vibe car belonging to Mr Thompson, in the middle of the road.

Even before the lawyer could alight from his car to ask what the matter was, the AMA boss, who was sitting in his official vehicle together with the Metropolitan Coordinating Director, one Sam Aryeh-Datey, is said to have ordered his bodyguard to shoot the tyres of the vehicle.

They claimed he was tail-gating (following) their vehicle.

This was in the early hours of yesterday (January 12, 2015) when there was huge vehicular traffic in the area.

Instantly, the police corporal opened fire to deflate the tyres of the vehicle.

He is then said to have pulled the lawyer from the vehicle and threw him onto the ground to the surprise of helpless onlookers.

An obviously angry lawyer Thompson is said to have con­fronted the trigger-happy cop for his unprovoked action, but the policeman would not budge.

Lawyer Thompson, there­fore, is said to have threatened to deal with him.

The policeman purportedly took his (lawyer's) car keys from him and so he had to join a taxi to continue his journey.

Vanderpuije and the coordinat­ing director allegedly caused the vehicle to be towed to the premises of AMA's security out­fit, close to the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra.

The bodyguard, Lance Corporal Akunor, alleged­ly went to report the case at the Jamestown Police Station where officers instructed him to bring the vehicle to the station.

Officials of the assembly report­edly called at the police later in a bid to withdraw the case and get it resolved amicably.

It is not too clear if they suc­ceeded in having a deal with the lawyer.

But Mr Vanderpuije did not respond to calls by Daily Guide when the paper tried to reach him for his side of the story.