The Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has dismissed three regional executives of the Sekondi/Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (STCCI).
They include the Chairman, Ato Van-Ess, the Vice Chairman, Cadmond Dadzie and Treasurer, Mathew Ade.
This comes after STCCI announced it had seceded from the National Chamber following allegations of embezzlement against the mother union last week.
Cadman Dadie, vice chairman of the Sekondi Takoradi Chamber of commerce and Industry told Citi Business News it took the decision to break away following the allegations.
But the National President of the Ghana chamber of commerce and industry Seth Ajei Baah told Citi Business News after he addressed a press conference that Sekondi chamber is acting contrary to their rules.
‘They are like rebels and they want confrontation, we don’t want that”.
He said,”the constitution allows the council to take such decisions and we have done exactly what the constitution is telling us, so it’s the council that is taking this decision and not me as the president”.
The council has also issued a 24 hour ultimatum to the dispelled executives to return all properties belonging to the Chamber.
The Ghana chamber of commerce and industry says it is ready for any legal tussle with the dismissed executives.
“Every institution should be ready for these things, so we are ready for that, we are going to take them on” Mr. Adjei Baah said.
The chamber has also defended the 500 dollars and other amounts paid the president of the association and other executives during foreign trips.
The chief executive officer of the chamber Mark Badu-Aboagye revealed that ,” all national officers are given 500 dollars , the regional chairmen take 400 dollars , senior managers take 300 dollars per day junior staff take 200 dollars per day during official trips”.
He said the 500 dollars per day covers the national officers accommodation, feeding, ground transportation and any ancillary expenses which may arise while the officer is performing duties on behalf of the chamber outside the country.
Meanwhile the Sekondi Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called on the Ministry of Trade and Industry to conduct an independent inquiry into the activities and finances of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
They made the call during a press conference yesterday.
According to the Vice chairman Cadman Dadzie, the national executives have been using funds belonging to the association on journeys without the notice of the national council of the chamber of commerce.
They say the rot is so devastating that even on trips which the receiving country bears the cost of, executives still surcharge the mother union for airfares and per diem.
Credit: citifmonline