Outgoing Mayor of Accra and Member of Parliament-elect for Ablekuma South, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, suffered embarrassment at the hands of former President Jerry John Rawlings in Parliament yesterday.
That was when the two met at the entrance of the House where outgoing President John Dramani Mahama was scheduled to present his last ‘State of the Nation’ address.
Moments after Mr Rawlings alighted from his car and started walking on the red carpet leading to the reception of the House, Okoe, who was also going to the chamber, decided to show courtesy to the former president.
He managed to catch the attention of Mr Rawlings, who was in the company of three of his security details, when he (Vanderpuije) called him (Rawlings) from behind.
The man stopped halfway to find out who was calling only to realize it was Okoe: his body language suggested disappointment. He snubbed the Accra Mayor and walked away.
Okoe probably thought the man could not make him out and so decided to push his luck further, doubling his pace to say a word; that was when he was hit with the embarrassment.
This time round, visibly angry Mr Rawlings stopped, starred at him with a straight face and gestured him not to come anywhere close to him, to the surprise of many, including journalists, members of a ‘kete’ dance troupe and other observers.
It was as though a bad blood exists between the two individuals.
The former president, who is also the founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the December polls, then headed for the chamber of the House to observe proceedings for the day.
A video on the drama has since gone viral, provoking arguments.
While some believe Mr Rawlings acted in bad faith because Vanderpuije merely wanted to exchange pleasantries, others have also sought to justify it with claims that Vanderpuije wanted to warm himself up to him now that they have lost political power and has little or no influence.
But that was not the end of the story as Mr Rawlings caused another scene in the House during the call to prayer.
At the time most of the gathering in the chamber were upstanding, Mr Rawlings remained seated with his head bowed to the surprise of many.
See video below:
By Charles Takyi-Boadu