Former RAL President, Clarke Demystifies Tokpah’s assertions
MONROVIA-Barely few days after the current leadership of the Reporters Association of Liberia, (RAL) accused the past leadership of not providing turnover notes and other financial statements, the former President of RAL, (RAL), Madam Cecelia G. Clarke has sharply demystified claims made by the current Leadership of RAL.
Madam Clarke termed these assertions made by Willie Tokpah as erroneous and unprofessional.
The former President of the Umbrella Institution for all reporters in Liberia disclosed that during the induction ceremonies about a month ago, her leadership made available all relevant documents including, bank books, communications received from institutions, stamps, membership forms, receipts of things bought during her leadership, deposits, and withdrawal slips among others.
“About two weeks back, Augustine Saah called me in relation to changing the signatures of RAL’s Bank Accounts. He and I discussed this prior to my departure to Dubai and I mandated the former SG to write the letter in that regard which he did.
“Upon my return, colleagues of the media, I was taken aback when friends started calling me about RAL’s account and turnover note “she added.
She urged the current leadership to exhibit the highest degree of professionalism in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities and desist from unwholesome acts that have the proclivity to bring the sacred reporters’ organization to public disrepute.
“You have to be professional at all times, and I advise you to deactivate yourself from campaign mood and do the work you were elected to do. “We are in no competition, Willie”., “Willie and his team could have called me or Mark to make a follow-up. That, they did not do but decided to go public with something we have already had a discussion about.
Let me also remind you that you were the “Vice president” in the same leadership you bend on bringing to public ridicule. Isn’t that shooting oneself in the leg?”
“Finally, like I said letter requesting for a change of RAL’s bank account signatures has been prepared long time ago, Willie and his team members will come for it once they (Willie and his deputies) are ready”. Madam Clarke indicated.
Alphonso Toweh
Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in International Relations and a candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Liberia.