Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije

Alfred Oko Vanderpuije was born on the 4th of November, 1955. Vanderpuije's roots run deep in Accra. He was born and raised in Jamestown, with various stages of his childhood spent in Mamprobi, Darkuman, and Dansoman. His Euro-African descent is reflected in his Dutch surname, tracing back to his ancestors who originated from Sint-Maartensdijk on the former island of Tholen in the Netherlands. Notably, one of his ancestors, Jacobus van der Puije, served as the governor of the Dutch Gold Coast in 1780.

Alfred Oko Vanderpuije's commitment to education is evident in his academic journey. He studied at Accra Teacher Training College, where he completed a 3-year Postsecondary degree in Education. His dedication to education continued as he pursued a Master's in Education from Mid America Nazarene College and a Specialist in Education Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, in the United States.

Vanderpuije's political career began to take shape when he was appointed as the Mayor of Accra. President John Atta Mills bestowed this responsibility upon him in 2009, and he continued in the role under President John Dramani Mahama, serving two terms until 2017. His tenure as Mayor of Accra left an indelible mark on the city, and he earned recognition for his dedication to public service.

In 2016, Vanderpuije made the transition from being the Mayor of Accra to becoming a Member of Parliament (MP). He contested the elections on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and secured victory in the Ablekuma South Constituency in the Greater Accra Region. Vanderpuije's victory in the election was resounding, as he received 31,927 votes out of 59,041 valid votes cast, representing 54.36% of the votes. As an MP, he became a member of both the Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Committee of Parliament.

One of the standout moments in Vanderpuije's political career came in September 2021 when, in a moment of extraordinary civic duty, he directed traffic on the Sakaman Junction to the Dansoman roundabout stretch. With the police absent, he stepped in to manage the situation, providing much-needed relief to road users. This act of service demonstrated his commitment to the well-being of the people he represents.