GICAM-ECAM merger suffers fresh setback.

Critics of the Celestin Tawamba-led drive to fuse the two to form a new organisation, are now projecting the violation of a vital article in the statutes of GICAM.

They are faulting the 73.7 percent approval of the merger proposal as having fallen short of the three quarter required for any adjustments to be made. 

In this case, they are advancing that the Tawamba team has failed to attain at least 75 percent of the votes. 

The argument, observers are saying, is a major setback for the push to fuse GICAM and ECAM, to form a new organ. 

Tawamba, reports hold, addressed a letter to members of GICAM, on November 14, informing them of a General Assembly, to take place on December 14, 2023. 

In the letter, the embattled Tawamba is said to have indicated that during the General Assembly, a new association will be formed.

Before now, Tawamba is said to have written on October 11, 2023, to members, thanking them for approving his drive.

Tawamba is quoted as having wrote that: "I would like to reiterate my thanks and those of the Board of Directors for the wonderful page in our history that we have just written together: 73.7% of valid votes cast at our Extraordinary General meeting on 11 July, you will enable GICAM, our common movement, to begin the final phase of a slow process that began in 2019".

Statistics, position of Council of The Wise

Insiders say Tawamba, in his letter of October 11, detailed that of the 329 voters, 241 votes, corresponding to 73.25% of valid votes cast, opted for "YES" while 86 voters, representing 26.75% of valid votes cast, rejected the merger.  They were two null votes.

After the Extraordinary General Meeting of July 11, the Committee of Wise of GICAM, had reminded the GICAM Executive of Paragraph 3 of Article 17 of the GICAM Articles of Association, which stipulates: "Decisions of the Extraordinary General Meeting shall be taken by a majority of two-thirds of the votes of the active members present or represented when first convened, and by half of the votes when reconvened". 

With this situation, critics say they must be another Extra Ordinary General Assembly of GICAM to ensure another round of voting. 

When this is done, they say those in favour of the merger must work to score the required number of votes before progressing with any plans.

Violating GICAM’s Articles of Association

The Tawamba-led GICAM team is being accused of turning a blind eye on criticisms that the score of the July 11, 2023, voting did not hit the required mark.

Tawamba’s critics are holding on to Article 17-3 of the Articles of Association of GICAM, as having made it clear that for such a vote to go through, at least 75 percent of members must approve it.

They are now arguing that the announced General Assembly meeting of December 14, 2023, is in voilation of the internal text of GICAM. 

They also argue that the forceful push to go ahead with the merger is a violation of the ethical principles that have guided GICAM for over six decades.

Those who disagree with Tawamba further argue that the staging of the Constituent General Assembly, two days to the expiration of his second mandate, is worrisome. 

The merger of GICAM and ECAM is expected to create another association that will have about 430 companies.

Tawamba accused of wanting to cling to power 

In the face of the discord among GICAM members in relation to the merger, some business persons have been giving to understanding that Tawamba wants to cling to power as the boss of Cameroonian business persons.

To recall that he came to the helm of GICAM in 2017, following the death of then president,  Andre Fotso, in 2016.

During his first three-year mandate, Tawamba led a fierce campaign for reforms in the country’s tax system. He also made proposals and submitted to government.

The situation ruptured the relationship between GICAM and the then Director General of Taxes, Modeste Mopa Fatoing. He later wrote a letter to the Head of State, raising concerns on other issues.

On December 16, 2020, he was voted for a second mandate that was supposed to be his last. With the push to create a new association, Tawamba, some say, is working hard to stay in power.

This explains why some GICAM members want an absorption of ECAM to maintain GICAM’s identity. 

If such happens, Tawamba will not be able to seek another mandate.

But with the push to fuse ECAM and GICAM, a new association will emerge, paving the way for Tawamba to contest elections. This, his critics say, could result in him staying on as the head of business owners.

Origin of controversy

Heat started within GICAM, when on 17 January 2019, Tawamba launched a platform known as "Coordination patronale" between GICAM and ECAM. This set the pace for the fusion that has now become an issue of discord.

As it stands, critics have continued to argue that Tawamba wants to erase the GICAM brand from the scene in Cameroon against the wish of a majority of its members.