John van der Puije

**John van der Puije** (18 March 1848 – 12 September 1925) be Gold Coast man wey do trade, publish newspaper, be traditional ruler den politician. Between 1894 plus 1904, dem appoint am as member for de Legislative Council. He help bring back de Anglican Church plus English Freemasonry come de colony. He too push British colonial government make dem add more African people insyd de civil service for de late nineteenth century.

## Early life den education
John van der Puije born for Ussher Town, Accra, on 18 March 1848. Ein poppie be Jacobus van der Puije, wey be Euro-African, den ein mommie be Naa Karley Ankrah, wey come from de royal house of Otublohum anaa Otu ein Quarter. Ein grandpoppie for ein poppie side be Jacobus van der Puije (1754–1781), Dutch man wey serve as governor for de Dutch Gold Coast for Elmina insyd 1780. John van der Puije go Accra Wesleyan School plus de Dutch School for mulatto pikin dem for Elmina Castle.

## Business den journalism
John van der Puije turn general commodities merchant after he finish ein school. He dey inside de cocoa trade too. For some time, he dey do commerce for de eastern banks of de Volta River among de Anlo Ewe people. As ein trade grow, de paramount chief for Anlo Traditional Area make am one of ein messengers to de British Governor, William Brandford Griffith, wey rule Gold Coast for some times between 1885 plus 1894. Ein business matter carry am go England few times. For 1892, as he dey Britain, he receive commission from one Liverpool-based company, Messrs. J. J. Fischer and Co. Ltd, make he open demma subsidiary for Ghana. De company do well for Gold Coast colony, den later anoda English firm, Messrs. Pickering and Berthoud Ltd, give am task make he open local branch for Gold Coast.

He co-found *Gold Coast Chronicle* for 1880, plus ein brother Isaac van der Puije (Accra merchant den Legislative Council member from 1893 to 1898), J. H. Cheetham, Timothy Laing, den Pan-Africanist J. E. Casely Hayford. John van der Puije be de chairman for de newspaper ein board.

## Chieftaincy den politics
Dem enstool am as divisional chief for Otublohum, wey dey Ussher Town for Accra insyd, under Ga State on top 12 September 1888. Dem appoint am as Eastern Province Representative go de governing body of de Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society (ARPS). After John Mensah Sarbah die for 1892, de English Governor, William Brandford Griffith choose John van der Puije make he replace Sarbah for de Gold Coast Legislative Council on 15 May 1894. Insyd 1897, together plus de African members of de Legislative Council den ARPS, he campaign against de Lands Bill wey for take collect indigenous land wey before dem dey govern under de land tenure system. Coalition of local newspapers coordinate de opposition to de bill, wey end up inside petition wey group of nationalists — including major financier Jacob Wilson Sey — send go give de then Secretary of State for de Colonies for London, Joseph Chamberlain, wey serve from 1895 to 1903.

From 1901 go 1903, John van der Puije dey serve as elected member for Accra Town Council. For 1904, he comot from ein position for de Legislative Council sake of sickness. De president of ARPS dat time, J. P. Brown, na de colonial governor appoint make he succeed van der Puije for de Legislative Council.

## Freemasonry den Anglicanism
Insyd 1891, dem install am as Freemason for England. He be member of de Royal Victorian Lodge for Accra. He move from de Methodist Church go join de Church of England. Na he persuade de Anglican church make dem come back to de Gold Coast for 1906 after dem no dey for about one hundred and fifty years.

## Death
John van der Puije die on 12 September 1925 insyd Accra.

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