Footballer Weah takes Liberia presidency

GEORGE WEAH, the former World Footballer of the Year, who spent the twilight of his career at Chelsea and Manchester City, was announced the winner of Liberia’s presidential run-off last night. He defeated Joseph Boakai, the vice-president, in the first democratic transfer of power in decades following two devastating civil wars. Mr Weah is set to replace Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the incumbent who took over at the helm of Africa’s oldest republic in 2006.

The National Election Commission (NEC) said Weah had won an insurmountable 61.5 per cent of Tuesday’s vote, which was delayed several weeks after a legal challenge from Boakai. The NEC said that with 98.1 per cent of all votes counted, Boakai had only secured 38.5 per cent support.

Ahead of the results, armed police were deployed outside the poll body’s headquarters and some of Weah’s supporters were rejoicing.