John van der Puije

John van der Puije (18 March 1848 – 12 September 1925) was a Gold Coast merchant, newspaper publisher, traditional ruler and politician. Between 1894 and 1904, he was appointed a member of the Legislative Council. He was also instrumental in the re-introduction of the Anglican Communion and English Freemasonry to the colony. He also lobbied the British colonial government to have greater African representation in the civil service in the late nineteenth century.

Early life and education John van der Puije was born in Ussher Town, Accra on 18 March 1848 to Jacobus van der Puije, a Euro-African and Naa Karley Ankrah, of the royal house of Otublohum or Otu's Quarter. His paternal grandfather was Jacobus van der Puije (1754–1781), a Dutch administrator who served as the governor of the Dutch Gold Coast in its capital, Elmina in 1780. John van der Puije attended the Accra Wesleyan School and the Dutch School for mulatto children at the Elmina Castle.

From 1901 to 1903, John van der Puije was elected a member of the Accra Town Council. He stepped down from his position on the Legislative Council in 1904 on account of illness. The president of ARPS at the time, J. P. Brown was appointed by the colonial governor to succeed van der Puije in the Legislative Council.

Freemasonry and Anglicanism In 1891, he was installed a Freemason in England. He was a member of the Royal Victorian Lodge in Accra. He switched from the Methodist Church to the Church of England. He persuaded the Anglican church to return to the Gold Coast in 1906 after a century and half of dormancy.

Death John van der Puije died on 12 September 1925 in Accra.