Liberia’s President elect-Weah has his eyes always on excellence

George Weah, 25th President of Liberia

Liberia’s President elect-Weah has his eyes always on Excellence

George Oppong Weah, former AC Milan, Manchester City and Chelsea striker, has been elected the 25th president of Liberia.

Weah’s victory came after a protracted electoral battle from the first election in October through legal challenges to the run-off yesterday.

The sequence of events has shown that Weah is on the mind of the people. He is not new to excellence. He was a former 1995 – Ballon d’Or winner; 1996 – FIFA world player of the year; 2004 – Arthur Ashe Courage Award; 2008 – CAF Award for Best 10 Players and ultimately 2017 – President of Liberia.

Weah – the first African to win the Ballon D’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year – won comprehensively, clinching 12 of the 15 counties in the West African country.

His closest opponent Joseph Boakai, who has been vice-president for the last 12 years, only had two counties vote for him.

 “It is with deep emotion that I want to thank you, the Liberian people, for honoring me with your vote today. It is a great hope.”, the president elect tweeted after he was declared winner.

Weah won the first round of voting in October but didn’t secure the 50 percent needed to win outright. The runoff was delayed twice after allegations of voting fraud and irregularities but Weah’s popularity won out in the end.

He will take over from Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who beat him in an election back in 2005. Weah’s lack of education was seen as the main reason for his loss.

Liberia’s total confidence on the president elect will go a long way in garnering support for his administration. And this could turn the fortune of the West African country for better after tottering on the brink of economic downturn for long under Sirleaf.