The vehicles which were originally brought into Ghana to be used by District Chief Executives across the country, have been under the mercy of the weather for the past 16 years because the then Kufuor government failed to distribute them to the various assemblies citing the absence of a written contract in the purchase of the vehicles.

Successive governments have also failed to reach an amicable settlement with the importers of the vehicles, African Automobile Company Limited.

[contextly_sidebar id=”EnLEITaMxKTboJrXB1rP4RK4f1sVThr1″]Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, said the National Democratic Congress administration in their eight years tried on several occasions to take over the vehicles but was unsuccessful.

“I felt ashamed at the time I went to the Local Government Institute and saw these vehicles parked there. I felt sad for this country and I sincerely will believe that anybody culpable to have willfully caused financial loss to the state through the failure to allow the state to have access to these vehicles and to use them appropriately should be sanctioned.”

He lamented that, at the time, the matter was politicized such that it complicated the whole issue.

“This issue was politicized, became a partisan issue and we as such were not able to really exhaustively look at it; nationalistically, patriotically and with the lenses of national economy. The taxpayers money had been used and I would have said that if even the procedure for acquiring those vehicles were not properly followed, for the vehicles to stay there and rot aware while we will still pay for them, it’s better to be put to use and then whatever procedure which was breached, people who breached those procedures could be dealt with. But for people to deliberately decide that it will not happen was a problem.”

For MMDCEs/Sanitation exercise

He said the NDC government tried allow the newly created district assemblies to use the vehicles but it wasn’t successful.

Nii Lantey Vanderpuye also added that, the former Local Government Minister, Julius Debrah in 2012, also tried to get the vehicles to boost the national sanitation exercise, but also failed following the protracted legal tussle over the matter.

“As far back as 2013, there were attempts by Mills government to get the vehicles that were motorable, to be given out to some of our DCEs who at the time were having problems with their vehicles. The newly created district assemblies didn’t have equipment, among others. So the suggestion was that, why don’t we give them these vehicles but as at the time, because there had been a long legal tussle over the vehicles, it was difficult for anyone to use them.”

“I remember very well again that, after the 2012 election, when I became Deputy Minister, I remember Julius [Debrah] tried to get us these vehicles so that when we are embarking on the national sanitation exercise, we were trying to see if we could get these vehicles to the assemblies to facilitate and help them do their work because when we went there, some of the assemblies complained about lack of mobility. We tried again but we were not successful,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Punish those responsible for 86 dormant gov’t vehicles – Nii Lantey appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, Vanderpuye, who currently has a grip on the constituency could lose it if he is not careful.

“Nii Lantey should be very careful; if he becomes complacent he will have the shock of his life,” he said on Citi FM’s election coverage programme, Campaign Trail.

Ayibontey won the Odododiodioo constituency on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2000, but was defeated by the NDC’s Samuel A. Mankattah.

Ayibontey disclosed that “when I contested against Okiadja [Adamafio], I didn’t spend anything more than GHc800 for the seven months that I run the elections, I didn’t spend much but I won. Now in 2004, I had the resources but I lost.”

He further urged Vanderpuye to ensure that he satisfies the needs of the constituents.

“So he must go down to the people. You know, the very things that you think are not important to them are the things that matter, they can throw out propaganda out there and once the people accept it you are in deep trouble,” he added.

I’ll get 70% votes in Odododiodioo

Ayobontey’s advice comes on the back of Vanderpuye’s claim that he would win 70% of the votes in the constituency.

Speaking at his campaign launch in Accra on Sunday, Vanderpuye said he will work to ensure that he and President John Mahama garner 70% votes in the constituency.

“This time I am committed to making sure that we get the 70% target and the message is simple, I want John Mahama retained as president of this country. He’s done so much, he’s laid a solid foundation that we in this country cannot allow to be messed up and since Odododiodioo decides elections in Ghana, I want to make sure that we give John Mahama the 70% that he deserves to continue the good works, to continue changing lives and transformation in Ghana. I just want my opponent to understand that if they want to win elections, not in 2016 because there is no way they can win elections in 2016 because there is no way they can beat Nii Lantey Vanderpuye in Odododiodioo ,” he added.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Don’t be too sure about Odododiodioo – Ex MP to Nii Lantey appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the NDC Member of Parliament for the area, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, the votes from the constituency will guarantee John Mahama’s victory in the 2016 elections.

Speaking at his campaign launch in Accra on Sunday, Vanderpuye said he will also garner 70% of the vote in the constituency.

“This time I am committed to making sure that we get the 70% target and the message is simple, I want John Mahama retained as president of this country. He’s done so much, he’s laid a solid foundation that we in this country cannot allow to be messed up and since Odododiodioo decides elections in Ghana, I want to make sure that we give John Mahama the 70% that he deserves to continue the good works, to continue changing lives and transformation in Ghana.”

He also admonished the opposition New Patriotic Party to forget the 2016 election because they’ve already lost in advance.

“I just want my opponent to understand that if they want to win elections, not in 2016 because there is no way they can win elections in 2016 because there is no way they can beat Nii Lantey Vanderpuye in Odododiodioo.”

Battle for Odododiodioo seat

Nii Lantey Vanderpuye took over the Odododiodioo seat in 2012 from the NPP’s Jonathan Tackie Commey

The NPP has however vowed to take back the seat, after it elected Nii Lantey Bannerman to champion that course in the constituency.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Odododiodioo will give Mahama 70% votes – Nii Lantey appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Vanderpuye, who was elected MP for the constituency in 2012, is seeking another term in Ghana’s Parliament after he won the party’s primary in 2015.

Some members of the NDC including Deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho, Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije and the NDC’s Greater Accra regional chairman, Ade Coker, were at the event to throw their weight behind him.

Citi News’ Fred Djabanor reported that, the NDC in the constituency also used the opportunity to launch another version of it’s ‘Green Book’, this time one which outlined achievements of Mr. Vanderpuye in the Odododiodio constituency.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Nii Lantey Vanderpuye launches campaign [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.