Accra, Aug. 5, GNA - Mr. Ahmed Yusif Salifu, National Chairman of Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) on Sunday denied ever holding any meeting at which it was decided that the General Secretary of the Union, Mr. Napoleon Kpoh be removed from office.

He said any action of any group of people to form an interim management committee to run the union was unconstitutional and illegal. A statement Mr. Salifu signed in Accra said it was only the Congress, the highest decision making body of the union that has 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.

He said it had been difficult to raise funds to hold the 8th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in August, this year. Mr Salifu said, "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."

He said a committee of three; Mr Solomon Kotei, Deputy General Secretary (as acting Chairman), Mr Theophilus Tenkorang, the Second National Trustee and Mr David Kotei, Principal Accountant, was formed to source for the loan.

Mr Salifu said the bank could not give them the loan and it was on August 2, this year that the ICU leadership would meet to brief the NEC on preparations and funding of the conference. It would be at this meeting that the General Secretary would be responsible for the difficulties in holding the conference and moves made for his removal from office.

Mr. Salifu gave the assurance to all staff that the unity of the union was in their best interest, while disintegration would serve no purpose.

He said: "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." 05 Aug. 07