Joseph Boakai will be sworn in as Liberia’s president on Monday following his victory in election.
Boakai who is looking forward to tackling poverty and corruption, defeated his opponent and former football star George Weah,
The 79-year-old narrowly beat former Ballon d’Or winner in November’s run off poll with 50.64% of the votes to 49.36%.
He will be sworn in for a 6-year term in a ceremony that will be held in parliament in the capital Monrovia from 10:00AM (1000GMT) in presence of other foreign leaders and diplomats.
Boakai has 40 years of political experience. He was the vice president from 2006 to 2008 under Liberia’s first woman president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, before being soundly beaten by Weah in the 2017 election. The small nation of 5 million people has been plagued with corruption, high levels of poverty and weak justice system, after years of civil war and Ebola outbreak, but recent polls were peaceful in the region that has seen succession of military coups in recent years.
Boakai aligned himself with local barons during his election campaign, including former warlord Prince Johnson. He has nominated one of his associates, Jeremiah Koung, as Boakai’s vice president.
Given his long career in politics, Liberians expect Boakai to create jobs, improve the economy, strengthen institutions and fight corruption-which was one of his key campaign agenda.
“Expectations of Boakai’s presidency are high,” Larry Nyanquoi, told AFP.
Liberians also expect Boakai to ensure a stable supply of electricity and water and improve the road infrastructure to attract investment.
The outgoing government did not live up to its commitment to ensure the rule of law was upheld, to establish a war and economic crimes court, and to end impunity in the country. Boakai now faces the tricky challenges of accommodating all those who supported his election campaign when he starts distributing jobs,analsts say.
“They have promised improved economic conditions and they have also failed so he has to say and do something that will be different” said Abdulla Katamba.
President-Elect Joseph Nyuma Boakai of the Republic of Liberia, congratulations on your well-deserved victory! Your leadership should create a concrete way for the economic emancipation of the people of Liberia.
I applaud @FreedomLiberia and President @EmmanuelGonquo5 for… pic.twitter.com/tiVO1zW2Pr
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) January 21, 2024