B/A ICU Calls For Calm

Space FM, Sunyani, August 12- The Brong-Ahafo Regional Council of the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union(ICU), has resolved that leadership of the council should be held collectively, severally and jointly responsible for whatever laspses or failures, if no praise is due them collectively.

This is because according to the ICU oath of office, an officer shall not betray a colleague, so therefore, no one can apportion blame to the other(s). Members of the union have been calling on their national excutives, including the General Secretary, to step down because their four year term of office has expired. The ICU postponed their conference, which should elect new executives, for lack of funds. The resolution was reached at the council's regional meeting in Sunyani which deliberated on recent disturbances within the union following union's inability to hold conference as scheduled. It pointed out that "the current leadership should be dissolved ONLY at conference as has always been the constitutional process and as the National Executive Council(NEC), has directed conference should be held within the next three months". The council again called on members "to avoid unconstitutional acts, issuance of threats and ultimatums since ICU members are known to be intelligent,circumspect and always unperturbed". It again urged members to endeavour to protect and uplift the IMAGE of the union in order to continue to enjoy the prestigious relations with employers and the general public. The council also prevailed on members "to ensure that there is peace and tranquility in the union by observing constitutional meeting procedures where motions are tabled for discussion and acceptable decisions taken". The resolution also said the " the loan committee should be reconstituted to source the fund for the conference, counting on the influence of our Financial Institutions(ASSOFIN) members and using our office complex project at Kokomlemle as collateral". The resolution urged members of the union to "refrain from setting any bad precedent", adding that "no General Secretary shall seek re-election after two conferences or after eight years in office". " Where conference is not held for certain reasons, on the eighth anniversary of assuming office, a fitting send-off shall be organised for him or her and all his or her entitlements paid", the resolution continued. "The NEC shall then empower the Deputy General Secretary in charge of Adminstration or the Deputy General Secretary in charge of Operations to act", the resolution said.

The regional council urged the NEC to impress upon the present contitutionally elected leadership to reconvene a NEC meeting to determine the way forward. Signatories to the resolution for and on behalf of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Council of the ICU were, Mr Albert Amoah Frimpong-Sunyani branch chairman, Alex Afriyie-Goaso branch chairman, Bernard Osei Fokuo-Berekum branch vice chairman, Sis. Cecilia Opoku Boateng- Techiman branch chairperson, Joseph Ob-Yang-Sunyani branch secretary, Sis. Emelia Kusi-Goaso branch secretary, Emmanuel K.Offorih-Berekum branch secretary and Sis. Victoria Bonyah-Techiman branch secretary.