Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has voiced his disappointment over the disruption that occurred during the memorial service for the late President Prof. John Evans Atta Mills at Asomdwee Park on Wednesday, July 24.
In an interview on Eyewitness News, Vanderpuye described the incident as “unwarranted” and expressed his dismay at the confusion that arose after former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, exceeded his allotted speaking time. This delay affected the subsequent event organized by the NDC and the JEA Mills Memorial Heritage.
Mercy Araba Ahema Quarshie, the sister of the late President, condemned Anyidoho’s actions, stating that he would face consequences for his behavior.
Vanderpuye placed the blame on the government for allowing the incident to happen and criticized Anyidoho’s conduct, attributing it to arrogance and animosity towards NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama.
“You see, you and I all agree, even though in Ghana, we value the extended family system. There’s always the immediate family or the nuclear family. So as to dispute about whose family or who has the right to somebody, it cannot be questioned because the first point of call is the immediate or the nuclear family before you go to the extended family,” Vanderpuye explained.
He continued, “So what happened was uncalled-for, unwarranted and unexpected, but I will put it all at the doorstep of the government which is allowing this ‘buffoon’ of a guy called Anyidoho… the way he’s behaving, he’s playing a ‘buffoonery’.”
Vanderpuye further criticized Anyidoho’s lack of humility, stating, “His arrogance and ego, he doesn’t have the humility that is supposed to be exhibited by anybody who worked under President Mills. All he’s doing is nothing, it’s about his hatred for President Mahama, it is nothing else.”
He claimed that Anyidoho’s actions were intended to disrupt the event and undermine the presence of President Mahama and the NDC’s national executives. “All that he tried was to do something to disrupt the programme he knew President Mahama and the NDC, the national executives were going to be present,” Vanderpuye asserted.
This incident has sparked significant controversy, highlighting the tensions within the NDC and the broader political landscape in Ghana.