Boakai sworn in as Liberia president

JOSEPH Boakai was sworn in yesterday as Liberia’s president after his election victory over former football star George Weah, with the challenge of tackling poverty and corruption.

The 79-year-old narrowly beat former Ballon d’Or winner Weah in November’s run-off poll with 50.64% of the votes to 49.36%.

The investiture ceremony in parliament was attended by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Boakai, who will be steering Africa’s oldest republic for six years, has 40 years of political experience behind him. He was vice-president from 2006 to 2018 under Africa’s first elected female head of state Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, before being soundly beaten by Weah in the 2017 election.

November’s poll in the West African country was peaceful in a region that has seen a succession of military coups in recent years in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger.

But the small nation of 5million has been plagued with corruption, high levels of poverty and a weak justice system, after years of back-toback civil wars and an Ebola outbreak.

Impunity related to crimes committed during those civil wars is another unresolved issue. Boakai aligned himself with local barons during his election campaign, including former warlord Prince Johnson.

Johnson backed Weah in 2017. Johnson was also famously seen drinking a beer in a video while his men tortured to death former president Samuel Doe. He has nominated one of his associates, Jeremiah Koung, as Boakai’s vice-president. Johnson himself is under US sanctions. Liberians expect Boakai to create jobs, improve the economy, strengthen institutions and fight corruption, which was one of his key campaign pledges.

Liberians also expect Boakai to ensure a stable supply of electricity and water, and to 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. The mysterious deaths of four government auditors also raised suspicions.

Boakai now faces the challenge of accommodating those who supported his election when he starts distributing jobs.