Group wants Okoe Vanderpuije as NDC running mate

A group calling itself the Ga-Dangme Youth of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the leadership of the party and President John Dramani Mahama to consider Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Accra, Dr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, as running mate in the 2016 general elections.

Speaking to The Finder in an interview, Abdul Aziz Sununu, organiser of the group, said since independence, no Ga indigene has ascended to the high office of President or Vice-President.

According to him, after 58 years of independence, it would not be out of place for a Ga indigene to occupy the office of Vice-President of the country.

He said when they raised the issue verbally with national executives of the party, they were asked to put it on paper and table it formally; he revealed they are in the process of doing just that.

When asked why Dr Vanderpuije and not any other prominent Ga indigene in the NDC, Abdul Aziz Sununu replied that Dr Vanderpuije is doing well as MCE of Accra and has links with powerful decision-makers outside Ghana.

He noted that being elected as Global Alliance of Mayors and Leaders from Africa speaks volume about the pedigree of Dr Vanderpuije.

He said through his contacts, Dr Vanderpuije was the first person to lobby the government of the United States of America to transfer funds directly to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), which was used to construct Millennium City Schools project, and in the process end the shift system of education in the metropolis.

Abdul Aziz Sununu noted that the Ga-Dangme Youth of the NDC are optimistic that when Dr Vanderpuije becomes Vice-President, he would have a better opportunity to meet more power brokers to enable him raise more funds to extend the Millennium Schools to all district capitals.

Meanwhile, Dr Vanderpuije has picked nomination forms to contest the Ablekuma South parliamentary seat ahead of the NDC primaries.

The incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Fritz Barfuor, has decided not to seek re-election.

Dr Vanderpuije said he would launch his campaign after he has presented his nomination forms.

As part of key steps to win the seat, he disclosed that he would embark on a house-to-house campaign pretty soon.

The NDC has set November 7, 2015, to hold its presidential and parliamentary primaries ahead of the 2016 elections.