NEC makes it Official – George Weah to be Liberia’s Next President
The National Elections Commission (NEC) has certified the election of President-Elect George Weah, his running mate Jewel Howard Taylor, and 66 of the 73 elected members of the House of Representatives. The final results showed that Weah won with 61.5 percent of the vote. Nearly 56 percent of voters participated in the December 26 runoff between Weah and his opponent Joseph Boakai, the current Vice President. This was nearly 20 percentage points below the 75.2 percent turnout for the October 10 election in which 20 candidates competed for the presidency. FPA – NEC Certifies Election NEC – Runoff Election Final Results
After allegations of election fraud and a delayed runoff that raised fears about a constitutional crisis, Vice President Joseph Boakai, Weah’s opponent, accepted defeat on December 29 and offered his support to the new government. “I congratulate the winner, Ambassador George Manneh Weah, and pray that God will guide and guard him as he takes upon the onerous responsibility of steering the affairs of our nation,” Mr. Boakai said outside his party’s headquarters in Monrovia. “I reject any temptation of imposing pain, hardship, agony and uncertainty on our people,” he said, alluding to past conflicts in Liberia’s transitions of power. “My name will not be used as an excuse for one drop of human blood to be spilled in this country.” NYT – Liberia’s Vice President Concedes Election: ‘It Has Never Been About Me’ Boakai’s concession and the NEC’s certification of results set the stage for the inauguration of Weah on Monday, January 22 to take place at an inauguration ceremony before a joint session of Liberia’s legislative bodies. The transfer of power from one elected government to another is a milestone in Liberia’s transition to a viable multi-party democracy. Observer- Inauguration on January 22 Weah will succeed President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is stepping down after two six-year terms. An internationally known former soccer star, Weah received congratulations messages from an array of political leaders and sports celebrities. Bush Chicken – World Leaders Congratulate Weah On Election Win The White House Office of the Press Secretary also issued a statement of congratulations to the people of Liberia and George Weah.
Weah and Liberia Face Challenging Future – Politically Stable, But Broke
Enormous economic challenges face the new Weah-led government. Liberia continues to feel the side effects from the twin shocks of the 2014 Ebola outbreak and a global slump in commodity prices. Economic growth, a negative 1.6 percent in 2016, grew to 2.6 percent in 2017 according to the World Bank. World Bank – Liberia Overview The inflation rate stood at 12.4 percent and Liberians complain about the inability to afford imported goods, as the Liberian dollar depreciated by 20 percent in 2017. The government’s current year budget stands at US$ 563 million, but President Sirleaf had to notify the legislature that the government does not have enough revenue for all budget outlays. Liberian news organizations are reporting that as little as $500,000 remains in government coffers. FPA – President-elect George Weah to Inherit A Broke Government GNN Liberia – Coffer Bleeds With Only US$500,000.00 – Senator Dargoseh Discloses On top of bleak economic conditions, the government is taking full responsibility for security and its cost as the United Nations ends its peace-keeping mission in March 2018. The cost of living, especially the cost of imported food, has hit Liberians very hard. Slow economic growth has limited employment, directly affecting Liberians, with 63.8% living below the poverty line and 47.9% living in extreme poverty according to the International Labor Organization. ILO – Liberia
Boosting the economy will be especially important for the new president, since many of his supporters – young, unemployed or underemployed, and struggling financially – are those most in need of opportunities. Weah promised to “create more jobs, provide free education and free healthcare, but there were limited details on how those are going to be achieved,” said Robtel Neajai Pailey, a Liberian academic, to Al Jazeera. But despite the often broad, thin-on-details promises, the footballer-turned-politician’s message for change struck a chord with young Liberians who see his rise from the dirt streets of Claratown as an expression of their dreams for a better future. For many of his supporters, Pailey said, Weah “represents their story”. Al Jazeera – President-elect George Weah: What’s next for Liberia? Liberian journalist Gabriel Williams sees Liberia’s cup “half-full” and emphasizes the importance of the 2017 election in solidifying democratic values in Liberia. FPA – Peace Election Represents Milestone for Liberia’s Democracy
Who is George Weah?
Born on October 1, 1966, George Weah was sent by his parents, who lived in Grand Kru County, to Clara Town – an area in Monrovia built on a swamp and beset by disease and overcrowding – to live with his grandmother. BBC – George Weah: The ex-footballer elected Liberia’s president As a teenager, he began playing league football in Liberia, eventually dropping out of high school in his final year to concentrate on the sport. Weah was spotted playing in 1987 for a team in Cameroon by French football manager and former player Arsene Wenger. Wenger brought him to Europe, where he would play for AS Monaco. From there, it was on to Paris Saint Germain, AC Milan, Chelsea, Manchester City and Olympique Marseille. During his career, he learned French and reportedly held French citizenship. He is the only African to ever win soccer’s highest award, the Ballon d’Or. He also served as a UN and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Weah retired from football in 2003or 2003 (depending on source) and first ran for president in 2005, when he lost to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Weah ran in 2012 for Vice-President, on the losing ticket of presidential candidate Winston Tubman. In 2014, Weah won his first election when he ran for Senator from Montserrado County. Newsweek – Who Is Liberia’s George Weah, The Footballer Turned Presidential Candidate? President-Elect Weah is married to Clar Weah, who was born in Jamaica to Jamaican parents, and migrated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she runs a Caribbean restaurant and grocery store. According to reports, the couple met in a bank in New York where Clar worked as a customer service officer. Jamaica Observer – Liberia’s New First Lady is Jamaican One of their three children is Tim Weah, who is a star player on the U.S. under-seventeen soccer team. SB Nation – Who is Tim Weah