Civil Society Coalition Warns LFA Against Accepting Sponsorship Proposal from Cassell Kuoh’s NEEV Liberia

Monrovia – As the Liberia Football Association (LFA) struggles to secure a sponsor for the national league or renew its partnership with Orange Liberia, a civil society organization is urging caution in considering a sponsorship proposal from New Energy Electrical Vehicle (NEEV) Liberia.

Recently, the LFA informed clubs and stakeholders that they are actively seeking new sponsorships, as they believe the financial support provided by Orange Liberia is insufficient to meet their needs.

However, as the 2024/2025 league kicks off without an official sponsor or confirmation of Orange Liberia’s continued support, the Civil Society Coalition Against Fraud has issued a strong warning to the LFA. The group cautioned the football association against accepting any sponsorship or gifts from Mr. Cassell Kuoh, who they claim has a reputation tarnished by serious criminal convictions, including wire fraud and money laundering.

In a press release signed by its Secretary-General, Victor Hayes, the Coalition expressed deep concern over Kuoh’s recent proposal to invest US$500,000 as a sponsorship package for the LFA National League. The Coalition described this offer as a “calculated move” to distract the public from Kuoh’s notorious history of fraudulent activities.

“Mr. Kuoh, who has long been associated with elaborate financial schemes, poses a significant risk to any organization or individual that aligns with him. The football house could be the next victim,” the Coalition stated.

The release further highlighted Kuoh’s introduction of electric and solar-powered three-wheeled vehicles (Kehkehs) in March 2024, when he claimed that NEEV Liberia would train and empower over 100 young Liberians. The Coalition, however, described these operations as a scam, accusing Kuoh of using such initiatives to gain public trust while engaging in questionable activities.

The Coalition’s background checks revealed that Kuoh’s NEEV Liberia bears troubling similarities to his previous fraudulent enterprise, Phoenix Mining and Investment Group (PMIG), which was allegedly involved in defrauding investors in the gold and diamond sector. Kuoh was convicted in the United States for wire fraud conspiracy after swindling US$9.5 million from a U.S. investor and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay US$16.2 million in restitution before being deported after serving his sentence.

The Coalition expressed concern that Kuoh’s current activities, including the publicized donation of large sums of money, are a calculated attempt to distract from his criminal past and launder his reputation.

“His dubious record of fraudulent investment schemes, particularly those involving gold and diamonds, should serve as a clear warning to the LFA and all other institutions,” the release noted.

The Coalition called on the LFA to resist any attempts by Kuoh or his associates to infiltrate the sporting community, warning that his history of sophisticated fraud and alleged connections within the Liberian government should disqualify him from any involvement in Liberia’s beloved sport.

“The LFA must recognize the dangers of affiliating with an individual whose criminal record is well-documented by U.S. investigators. Mr. Kuoh’s past, marked by deception and exploitation of vulnerable investors, makes it clear that he lacks the integrity required to make such an investment in Liberian football or any other sector where trust and transparency are paramount,” the release emphasized.

The Coalition concluded by urging the LFA and other stakeholders to reject any proposal from NEEV Liberia, warning that Liberian football should remain a platform for hope, discipline, and integrity, free from criminal financial influence.