Council Dissolves Executives Of Regional Chamber Of Commerce

The National Council of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), on Monday said it has dissolved the executives of the Sekondi-Takoradi Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (STRCCI). The executives which included Mr Ato Van-Ess, Chairman of STRCCI, Mr Cadmond Dadzie, Vice Chairman and Mr Mathew Ade. Treasurer, have therefore been directed to hand over all properties and assets to the National Secretariat of GCCI within 24 hours. Mr Mark Badu-Aboagye, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GCCI, announced the decision at a press conference in Accra after the Council passed a resolution to that effect. The executives of STRCCI have been asked to disassociate themselves and desist from using the name given to the STRCCI by the GCCI, and that the Chamber shall take all legal steps to undo any damages the executives may have caused the Chamber through their actions, he said. Mr Badu-Aboagye explained that Mr Van-Ess had wanted to be the CEO of the Chamber after he was short-listed for the position, and could not get the position. He alleged after his botched attempt to become the CEO of the Chamber, he moved his ambition to the Presidency of the Chamber and did everything to unseat the President of the Chamber. Mr Badu-Aboagye said as a result of his failed ambition, Mr Van-Ess stopped attending meetings and decided to operate outside the ambit of the Chamber. He alleged the Council is aware that Mr Van-Ess has been organizing some members of the STCCI, and issuing them with letters of support to various Embassies in the country, to embark on international trips without any recourse to the National Secretariat of the Chamber. Mr Badu-Aboagye explained that when the Executive Officers of the Chamber confronted him on his behaviour, he neither showed signs of regret, nor desisted from his behaviour. He said on June 1 this year, Mr Van-Ess wrote a letter titled � Grievances about the conduct of National Executives,� which included land acquisition, National Officers� allowances, victimization of STRCCI,and racial discrimination. Mr Badu-Aboagye said Mr Van-Ess also organized a press conference on June 30, and accused the National Executives of the Chamber of financial impropriety. He said the Council had refuted all the allegations leveled against the National Executives of the Chamber, and that Mr Van-Ess has ceased co-operating with the Council in Accra. Mr Badu-Aboagye added that pursuant to his conduct, Mr Van-Ess sent correspondence via electronic mail declaring the autonomy of the STRCCI after holding a press conference to that effect, as well as appeared on various media platforms to justify his position. �In view of the antagonistic and retrogressive position taken by Mr Van-Ess, the National Council of the GCCI convened an emergency meeting on July 2, and came out with the decision to dissolve the executives of STRCCI,� he added.