PROPHETIC POLITICS

Tribal Politics: The Two Vanderpuyes!

17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18“When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19“Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul” (Ezekiel 3:17-19)
This column is dedicated to commenting on our national life from a Biblical perspective. This is what makes it a column for all who also hold the Bible dear to their hearts. Indeed all patriots and nationalists who are equally committed to the non-partisan discussion of national issues are called upon to freely make their voices heard.
Our instant discussion is going to center around national cohesion and those who use the medium of political parties to prosecute petty tribal and self-serving ends; to the detriment of the good of the broad masses.
The case study here is going to be two people who bear the same name and seem to come from one of the noblest tribes that constitute Ghana.
Vanderpuye (1) is the Mayor of Accra. He seems to be doing so much good on his job. As a human being however, he has definitely made some mistakes- and may make some more. This is the good side of this Vanderpuye. I pray however that he does his work with compassion and humility.
President Kufour’s government decided to immortalize some of our past sporting personalities by naming some of our stadia after them. The Asantes have not raised a whimper for the naming of the Kumasi Sports Stadium after Baba Yara (a non-Asante).
Some of our Ga brothers and sisters, for whatever reason, did not want the Accra Sports Stadium to be named after a non-Ga and more so an Akan- Ohene Djan- the revered head of the Central Organization of Sports (COS) under President Kwame Nkrumah. The Kaneshie Sports Complex was named after our boxing hero- Azuma Nelson- and that was OK with these Ga friends!
Vanderpuye (1) just a couple of weeks ago announced that he was reversing the name to the Accra Sports Stadium. According to him he was only executing the decision of the Metro Assembly he presided over.
Now to Vanderpuye (2): He worked at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and was one time a Sports Commentator. Quite an affable person, except when it comes to politics. He is presently an aide to the President of Ghana- and one of those that are bringing the Presidency into disrepute. This man goes to Cape-Coast to participate in the Fetu Festival of the Chiefs and People of Cape-Coast. The Fantes are an Akan tribe. He is a Ga, but he was in Cape-Coast because he is a Ghanaian and an officer of the Government of Ghana.
Vanderpuye (2) then in his pride and arrogance elects himself to decide who should go and greet the Fante chiefs and who should not. If the President elected him to play that role; or State Security mandated him- why did they elect a non-Fante and a non-Akan to play that role? I am just ‘reversing the logic’ of Vanderpuye (1). Knowing Vanderpuye (2), I don’t have any shadow of doubt that he is one of the prime movers behind the change of name of the stadium.
I hope, my dear friend, that you have already noticed the huge contradiction between these two Vanderpuyes and their unproductive politics.
Now here are some few questions I have for us all:
• To Vanderpuye (1):
1. Why don’t you go ahead and change the names of all the State-owned edifices and institutions in Accra to Ga names or just label them after Accra?
2. How long did you live in the USA? Do the Mayors execute such myopic petty-tribal agenda?
3. If every Ghanaian becomes as ethnocentric as you are- what will become of our country?
• To Vanderpuye (2):
1. If you think it was wrong to name the Accra Stadium after a non-Ga and especially an Akan; was it right for you to take center stage in deciding who should sit, stand or move where at a purely Fante festival? Or maybe you are a super-man who can be a ‘champion’ in Accra, Cape-Coast, Kumasi and everywhere else?
2. I am sure you felt every bit a part of the Fetu Festival because you are a Ghanaian- right? If the Accra Stadium were named after the Chief of Cape-Coast- would you have accepted that?
3. Do you know Amartey Quaye and the role he played in the Rawlings Revolution? Did you learn anything from him?
• To President Atta-Mills:
1. Are you satisfied with the behavior of these two Vanderpuyes- especially in the particular instances sighted above?
2. Will you be happy if your successor decides to undo the decisions you are taking- to such petty ends?
3. Are you afraid of your appointees? What emboldens them to disrespect you to this extent? Do you speak in tongues or have friends who do? Did you hear what Tony Aidoo said about ‘Tongue Speakers?’
• To my Ga friends:
1. I know that amongst you are several noble men and women: Are you happy with what these two of your kind are doing?
2. If ‘Yes’- why? If ‘No’- what are you doing about it?
3. Is it an honor or dishonor to host the Capital of Ghana?
Dear reader, I am no tribalist. I am only trying to ‘reverse the logic’ of the two Vanderpuyes. The Bible teaches: “Answer a fool according to his folly; Lest he be wise in his own eyes” (Prov.26:5)
I am just trying to expose the logical implications of the above-cited actions of the Vanderpuyes.

The Prophet’s Call:
There are several of us Ghanaians, who are just like the two Vanderpuyes- bundles of pride, tribalism, arrogance, confusion and contradiction. And yet we all have the capacity to do so much good if we will just repent and tie our fortunes to God. Let us use whatever power and position we have today to sow seeds of love, unity, peace and kindness. These will guarantee us and our children a better future.
God richly bless you all
Prophet Micaiah
prophetmicaiah@gmail.com