There was a rare display of unity on Saturday when the Odododiodio Parliamentary Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Edmund Nii Lantey Vanderpuye flanked by Mr. Jonathan Nii Tackie Komme, incumbent Member of Parliament and the Constituency Chairman, Mr. Daniel Nii Okai went on a procession.
Followed by thousands of party supporters accompanied with brass band music and songs, the procession went through some of the principal streets in the constituency ending with an address by Nii Tackie Komme at the party’s office at James Town, after the launch of the campaign for the December election at the Bukom Square in Accra.
Supporters of the incumbent MP and Nii Vanderpuye since the Odododiodio NDC parliamentary primary have had misunderstandings.
The MP, Mr. Tackie Komme, addressing the NDC supporters stated that after the constituency primary which elected Nii Vanderpuye for the December general elections, they should have forged ahead with unity of purpose in order to fight for a common goal to ensure victory for the NDC.
He called on his supporters and the constituency members to vote for Nii Vanderpuye and the NDC under the leadership of President John Evans Atta Mills to continue the Better Ghana Agenda.
Nii Vanderpuye on his part commended Mr. Tackie Komme for his contribution to education and health in the area and promised to consolidate the gains so far achieved. He also called for a united effort to develop the constituency.
He promised to embark on social infrastructure and human resource development programmes when given the mandate to become the MP for the area.
Nii Vanderpuye also spoke of plans to provide and improve facilities at the Ussher Clinic, establish a sports academy for the people to improve their talents and to satisfy their recreational needs, as well as develop the beach to promote economic activities to generate revenue and provide employment for the youth.
Speaking with the Ghana News Agency after the rally, Mr. Daniel Okai said a number of activities were held before the launch of the campaign including the holding of a youth forum attended by people including traditional leaders and opinion leaders, irrespective of their political and religious affiliation and social standing to set an agenda for the development of the constituency.
Other activities embarked upon as prelude to the launch included a cleanup campaign, a forum for the aged and women, and a presentation to the Children’s Hospital in Accra.
Mr. Okai said the attendance the rally recorded was an indication that the NDC had already won the upcoming election.
Present at the launch were the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Ade Coker and some regional executives, the Minister and Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Ofusu Ampofo and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah respectively, the Deputy Minister of Information, Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa and the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Fiifi Kwetey.
Others were Dr Omane Boamah, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Nortey Dua, Deputy Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing, the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey and the Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Djangmah Vanderpuye.
Also present was Nii Okaidja Adamafio, a former Minister of Interior and MP for the area, who called on the people to give their mandate to Nii Lantey Vanderpuye.**
