Their dismissal followed the alleged decision of the three to declare the STRCCI an autonomous institution.

They also allegedly appeared on various media platforms in the country to canvass and justify their position.

They are Mr Ato Van-Ess, the Chairman of the STRCCI; Mr Cadmond Dadzie, the Vice- Chairman, and Mr Matthew Ade, the Treasurer.

Accordingly, they have been asked by the GCCI to cease operating and functioning as regional executives.

They have also been asked to disassociate themselves from the activities of the GCCI and its regional chamber in Sekondi-Takoradi.

The executive members are also to hand over all property and assets belonging to the chamber in their possession to the national secretariat within 24 hours.

The Chief Executive Officer of the GCCI, Mr Mark Badu-Aboagye,made these known at a news conference in Accra yesterday.

Reason for dismissal

At a news conference on June 30,2014, the executive of the STRCCI accused the national executive of the GCCI of financial impropriety, saying, for example, that they had been paying themselves travelling allowances of $500 per day.

They also accused the national officers of travelling too much.

At yesterday’s news conference, Mr Badu-Aboagye explained that the $500 covered accommodation, feeding, ground transportation and any ancillary expenses that might arise while the officers were performing duties on behalf of the chamber outside the country.

He said the regional chairmen took $400 per day, senior managers had $300 per day and the junior staff took $200 per day during official duties outside the country.

On travel, Mr Badu-Aboagye said one of the key functions of the chamber was to promote trade and investments in and outside the country through effective promotional means, while creating an opportunity for members to network with the business community locally and internationally.

No remorse

According to Mr Badu-Aboagye, when contacted, Mr Van-Ess neither showed regret nor desisted from his behaviour, which then suggested to the national executive that he had a personal agenda.

The Chief Executive officer of GCCI assured members, especially those of the STRCCI that the GCCI was still in control and the business community that the chamber would continue to perform its functions for the betterment of the chamber and the country.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Treasurer of the Chamber Ladies of the STRCCI, Rev. Mrs Georgina Forson Nyane, described the current situation as sad.

On whether businesses had been affected, she said business was going on in the Western Region but a lot of its members were not comfortable with current events in the chamber.

“We have a credit union and sometimes many of our contributors want to come for their money; others want to withdraw, while others are questioning the future of the chamber in Sekondi- Takoradi,” she said.

She stated that the recent happenings were not a collective decision of the members of the STRCCI and that in due course the Misunderstandings would be sorted out.