Assembly Members Hit The Streets Against The Removal Of Oko Vanderpuije

The attempt by a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to move a motion on the floor of Parliament for a vote of no confidence in the Accra Major, Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, has incurred the displeasure of some Assembly members. The General Assembly of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) staged a massive demonstration against the removal of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the AMA. The demonstration came as a result of a motion moved on the floor of Parliament by Hon. Patrick Boamah, MP for Okaikoi Central calling for the passing of a vote of no confidence in the Mayor. The Mayor has been at the receiving end of public anger in the wake of the Nii Boi Town hotel disaster which claimed one life. It is the second building disaster in two years which cumulatively have claimed 15 lives and injuring several others. The first was the Melcom disaster in 2012. The AMA stands accused for lack of due diligence and supervision. The Progressive Peoples Party, the Executive Secretary of the Bureau of Safety, Nana Amihere, a Lecturer at Ashesi University, Dr. Lloyd Amoah have all at one time or another demanded for the resignation or dismissal of the Accra Mayor. Some MPs including Patrick Boamah were next to demand for the resignation of the Mayor. But the Assembly members, at a press conference in Accra, pledged their unflinching support for the Mayor who they claim has done a great job and resisted the attempts to have the mayor removed. Members of the Assembly, clad in red arm bands, showed off their displeasure against the MP who they accuse of failing to attend any Assembly meetings for the past two to three years contrary to the regulations governing the local assembly administration. Spokesperson for the General Assembly, Isaac Aidoo pointed out that by law, the MP, who he accused of making frivolous claims against the mayor, only visits the Assembly for his Common Fund. They averred that the many developmental projects being undertaken in the Municipality are projects that were spearheaded by the Mayor with full support from the Assembly. Mr. Isaac Aidoo described the AMA boss as one of the best, if not the best mayor Accra has ever had, stressing that the CONTI Project, Millennium City Schools, Zero Cholera record, the Korle Lagoon dredging project, among others, are the many feats the Mayor has achieved for the community for which he must be commended and not crucified. �We can say that no MP can take credit for all the good things that are happening to Accra in terms of development�all the projects are spearheaded by the Mayor and the MPs always take credit for them,� ��talk of schools, water, health, and many other things that the Mayor has achieved�he has been instrumental in abolishing the shift system in Accra, fought Cholera and continue to do many important things in the capital,� �We are ready to resist any attempt by anybody to force the Mayor to leave office. This call by the MP is unfortunate and we strongly stand against that,� he said. The Assembly members who did not hide their disappointment in Hon. Patrick Boamah for making such statement on the floor of Parliament accused the MP of witch hunting. In another development, the Accra Market Associations have also rallied their support for the Mayor, kicking against the MPs demand for the mayor to be removed from office. They pledged their unflinching support for the Mayor and the Assembly in ensuring that the Better Ghana Agenda is pursued and achieved.