‘Don’t Disintegrate ICU’

Ahmed Yusif Salifu, National Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union (ICU) has asked members to unite and desist from acts that will disintegrate the union
He said unity of purpose was the best way forward, cautioning that disintegration would not help the union's cause.

Mr. Salifu made these remarks in a statement he issued in Accra to deny ever holding any meeting at which it was decided that the General Secretary of the Union, Napoleon Kpoh be removed from office.

The statement said any action towards forming an interim management committee to run the union was unconstitutional and illegal.

It further noted that only Congress, the highest decision-making body of the union, had the mandate and constitutional right to remove any officer of the union from leadership position.

The statement was in reaction to publications that the National Executive Committee (NEC) had held a meeting at which it was decided that an interim management committee be formed.

According to the statement, it had been difficult to raise funds to hold the 8th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in August.

“In April this year, the NEC met to consider the holding of the conference; the budget and all other preparations were considered.

“It was decided to form a committee to source for loan to finance the conference.”

The statement noted that a three-man committee, comprising Solomon Kotei, Deputy General Secretary, Theophilus Tenkorang, the Second National Trustee and David Kotei, Principal Accountant, was formed to source for the loan.

It disclosed that the bank could however not give them the loan and it was on August 2, this year that the ICU leadership met to brief the NEC on preparations and funding of the conference.

“Mr Kpoh remains constitutionally elected and therefore the only legitimate General Secretary of ICU until the 8th Quadrennial Delegates Conference elects a new General Secretary.”