The Secretary General of the Liberia Social Organisation (LASO) based in London, Mr. Van Richards III has been asked to transfer the amount of £4,820.00 back into the Natwest Bank Account of the organisation.

According to a letter signed by the acting chairperson of LASO, Mr. Alex Kpadeh and dated 8^th May, 2008, the leadership of the organisation unanimously decided that the amount be returned within 7 days of the date of his letter.

Mr. Kpadeh said that the decision was taken by the organisation at its general meeting held on the 3^rd of May, 2008.

In his letter Mr. Kpadeh accused Mr. Richards of transferring the amount from the organisation’s account without the consent of any member or official of LASO and said therefore Mr. Richard’s “decision was not in the best interest of the organisation”.

the decision knowing very well that a former official of LASO, Mr. Aldolpus Marshall and the former President Mr. Paul Choloply were neither members or officials of the organisation.

In conclusion Mr. Kpadeh urged Mr. Richards to give the contents of his letter due consideration and according to him, “make the decision that is best for the organisation”.

In response to Mr. Kpadeh’s letter, Mr. Richard said the decision to transfer the sum of the £4, 820.00 was taken at a meeting attended on the 1^st of April, 2008 by Mr. Alex Kpadeh, Mr. Adolphus Marshall, Mr. Paul Choloply and Mr. Albert Massaquoi and others.

He said at that meeting questions were reportedly raised regarding the transfer of the said amount and those questions were answered.

Mr. Richards said at the meeting held on the 1^st April 2008, he informed Mr. Kpadeh that the funds were initially transferred to the “Love A Child Orphanage” in October of 2007 at which time both Messrs Marshall and Choloply were serving officers and members of LASO.

Mr. Richards further explained that due to unforeseen circumstances within the banking transaction, the funds were not successfully delivered to the Orphanage’s account at the LBDI Bank in Monrovia.

He said Mr. Choloply and himself, on a visit to Monrovia, assured the orphanage’s management that everything would be done to ensure that the money was received in time for construction works on the orphanage.  

According to Mr. Richard’s letter, the amount was then re-transferred, as promised, upon his request as a serving officer of LASO.    

Mr. Richards reminded Mr. Kpadeh that LASO received a charity number because of the “Love a Child Orphanage” project and therefore every fund raising event was held to raise money for the orphanage.

He said that he found it incomprehensible that Mr. Kpadeh and others are now questioning the transfer of funds to the project for which it was intended.

The Secretary General of LASO also questioned “why is it that no one questioned the sending of donated items and money to the orphanage in the past?”

He said the volume of money or items sent to the orphanage should not be the determining factor for queries by Mr. Kpadeh as every charitable deed that has been done by LASO was done for the sole benefit of the orphanage and with the knowledge of the members.  

Mr. Richards then questioned the intentions of the officials of LASO and emphasized that unless some parties had intentions for money not related to the orphanage project, there were no issues to be considered.

He said the money was being spent on the project for which it was generated and therefore the approval of the body was not required in order to forward the money to the project for which it was intended.

Mr. Richards said that the constitution of LASO did not require this (approval of the members) and it had never been done before.

He said Mr. Kpadeh and Mr. Massaquoi had been given every bit of evidence of where the money had gone and he (Mr. Richards) would most certainly not be refunding any money which he does not have in his possession to anyone.

Mr. Richards concluded that the current leadership of LASO is welcomed to request the disputed amount from the orphanage should they so wish.

In another development, Mr. Richards has tended in his resignation from the position of Secretary General to the leadership of LASO.

In a letter addressed to acting chairperson Mr. Alex Kpadeh, and an official Mr. Albert Massaquoi, dated 16^th May, 2008, Mr. Richards said he took the decision because he felt that he had sufficiently served his time as an officer of the organization, adding that “the organization no longer shares the ideals I am committed to”.

Mr. Aldolpus Marshall and Mr. Paul Choloply who served as official and president of LASO during the term of Mr. Richards, have already tended in their resignations to the present leadership of the organization.

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