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Tag: George Weah

  • Liberia’s President Weah makes first major appointments

    Liberia’s President George Weah on Tuesday made his first major appointments less than 24 hours after his swearing in on Monday.

    Seven names made the first batch of appointees, including former Senate Pro-Tempore Gbezohngar Findley, who has been named Minister of Foreign Affairs.

    Findley, according to local media, is close ally of immediate past President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, and staunchly supported Vice President Joseph Boakai at the initial stage of the campaign period.

    He reportedly dumped Boakai, who ran for the presidency on the platform of then Unity Party (UP), and aligned with Weah, heavily campaigning for him parts of the country.

    This fueled speculations that Weah was receiving support from former President Johnson-Sirleaf, who was recently expelled by the UP for anti-party activities.

    Maj.-Gen. Daniel Ziankahn was immediately retired as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and appointed the Minister of National Defence, subject to Senate confirmation.

    Ziankahn replaces Brownie Samukai at the defence ministry, which is in the middle of an alleged wasteful spending of “welfare and supplementary pension benefits” members of the Armed Forces.

    Brig. Gen. Prince Johnson takes over from Ziankahn as the new Chief of Staff of the AFL.

    Weah named Chairman of the now ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Mr Nathaniel McGill as the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs.

    Samuel Tweh, a long-time member of the CDC is to serve as Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.

    Until his appointment, Tweh worked as an economic consultant at the Millennium Challenge Corporation under the Ministry of Finance.

    The president appointed Mr Charles Gibson as Minister of Justice, and Mr Sam Mannah as Press Secretary with immediate effect.

    Weah has directed that the heads of other government ministries and agencies remain in place until further notice.

    Meanwhile, some Liberians have urged the new president to honour his promise of holding government officials accountable to the people.

    Speaking in Monrovia, one of the respondents, Saah Clinton, a retired soldier, advised Weah to show courage and do the right thing in the interest of Liberians.

    “Although, I am confident in the president’s ability to crack down on corruption as promised in his inaugural speech, it takes a lot of political will and courage to do that.

    “The president should carry the masses along in whatever decision he takes against powerful government officials, and the people will stand by him,’’ he said.

    Weah in his inaugural address renewed his promise to tackle endemic corruption especially in the public service, vowing to prosecute corruption government officials “to the full extent of the law’’.

    “As officials of government, it is time to put the interest of our people above our own selfish interests. It is time to be honest with our people

    “For those who do not refrain from enriching themselves at the expense of the people, the law will take its course,’’ the president said.

     

  • [Photos] Obasanjo, Saraki, Okorocha arrive Liberia for George Weah’s inauguration

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, arrived Monrovia on Monday morning for the swearing in of Liberia’s President-elect, George Weah.

    Mr. Obasanjo’s plane touched down at the Roberts International Airport at 8:01 a.m. (9 a.m. Nigerian time) while Mr. Saraki arrived at 9:02 a.m.

    On hand to receive them were the Nigerian Ambassador to Liberia, James Dimka; Force Commander for the United Nations Mission in Liberia, Salihu Uba, among other officials.

    Speaking to journalists, Mr. Obasanjo said he was a proud to witness a peaceful democratic transfer of power in Liberia considering the huge sacrifices made by Nigeria for peace and stability in the country.

    “I am very happy over what is happening in Liberia today and I congratulate my brothers and sisters in this great country,” he said.

    A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent in Monrovia covering the inauguration reports that Mr. Saraki was accompanied by Senators Philip Aduda and Osita Izunaso.

    Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo arrived minutes before the senate’s helmsman.

    The airport is witnessing an influx of special guests from Africa and around the world, including current and former heads of states.

    Former Super Eagles midfielder, Austin Okocha, was among the international soccer stars already in the country.

    Okocha arrived at 9.54 a.m. into the warm embrace of soccer fans and government officials from other countries that fell over themselves to take photographs with the football legend.

     

    NAN

  • JUST IN: George Weah takes oath of office as Liberian president

    Former international football star George Weah has been sworn in as president of Liberia, the first peaceful democratic transfer of power in the West African country in more than seven decades.

    Weah won 61.5 percent of the votes in December’s election run-off, beating outgoing vice president Joseph Boakai who garnered 38.5 percent of the ballot.

    Voter turnout was 55.8 percent, or just over 1.2 million people, according to the election commission.

    The former world footballer of the year succeeded Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president.

    Weah entered politics after retiring from football in 2002 and run for the presidency in 2005 losing to Sirleaf.

    The last peaceful transfer of power between two democratically elected presidents took place in Liberia in 1944, when president Edwin Barclay was replaced by William Tubman.

    The swearing-in ceremony at a stadium near the Liberian capital, Monrovia was attended by more than a dozen African and foreign dignitaries, including heads of state from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Mali, Ivory Coast and Guinea.

    Many Liberians regard the 51-year-old as a hero for his incredible rags-to-riches tale. He was born in a slum in Monrovia, but found fame in international football.

    Weah has promised to eradicate corruption in the country of four million people and bolster the weak economy.

    Monrovia is highly dependent on exports of iron ore and rubber, which have recently plunged in prices. The country is also trying to overcome the effects of the Ebola outbreak, which left more than 4,000 people dead.

    Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world with 80 percent of the population living on less than $1.25 a day.

  • George Weah invites Arsene Wenger to inauguration as president of Liberia

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told the BBC that he has been invited by the new Liberia president George Weah to his inauguration later this month.

    Wenger was Weah’s manager at French side Monaco between 1988 and 1992 but he is not sure he will able to attend.

    “I have been invited by George to come to the day where he will be the President,” he said.

    “I believe I will be busy but if I am suspended (for his comments on referees) I will have time to go.”

    Wenger is facing a Football Association disciplinary hearing for various comments he made about referees in recent weeks.

    The Arsenal boss admits he still finds it hard to believe what Weah has achieved.

    “The life of this guy is a real film. It is unbelievable. It can make a fantastic film,” said an excited Wenger.

    “I remember when I saw him the first time at Monaco, coming in a bit lost, not knowing anybody, not being rated by anybody as a player and becoming the best player in the world in 1995 and today becoming the president of his country.

    Wenger also recalled the passion and love Weah had for Liberia.

    “I went with George during the period when there was war in Liberia and I have seen how much he suffered for his country,” Wenger added.

    “That was the thing which was continuous in his country, the love for his country and for his people.

    “Today when I look back I see him crying when war was on in Liberia so it’s a happy story.

    “I wish he has a happy presidency and I would like to say this guy is an example for everybody who plays football today.”

    Weah won a presidential run off poll last month beating Joseph Boakai with more than 60% of the vote.

    He will succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president.

    BBC Sports

  • Nominate credible candidates for appointment into my government, George Weah tells opponent

    Liberia’s President-Elect, George Weah on Monday (New Year Day) visited his closest opponent and incumbent Vice President, Mr. Joseph Boakai asking him to to suggest capable candidates for appointment into his government.

    Recall that the former football star won a landslide in the December 26, 2017 run-off election, which saw him elected as the next president of the country.

    Weah wrote in his Facebook page that he visited Mr Boakai on New Year’s Day as “a sign of solidarity and good will”, saying the election was over and that Liberia was the true winner.

    “I informed him that Liberia is the true winner, and that we must all work collectively in the best interest of our Country,” he wrote.

    “I further intimated that he’s a man of impeccable character and experience, and that his expertise will be needed in order to move our Country forward. I further assured him that he will be granted due courtesy according to the law as a statesman and outgoing VP.

    “Finally, I did suggest to him to put forth his people that he believes are capable of helping us move Liberia forward. Happy new year to you all,” he wrote.

    Mr Boakai conceded defeat to Mr Weah even before the final results of the election was announced. He explained that he did so because he wanted to prevent bloodshed.

    “I reject any temptation of imposing pain, hardship, agony, and uncertainty upon our people. My name will not be used as an excuse for one drop of human blood to be spilled in this country,” he said.

    Below is Mr. Weah’s Facebook post.

    “Earlier today, I paid a courtesy visit to the Honorable Vice President, Hon. Joseph Nyumah Boakai as a sign of solidarity and good will; and to wish him happy new year. I expressed to him that the elections are over now, and that there’s no winner here.

    “I informed him that Liberia is the true winner, and that we must all work collectively in the best interest of our Country. I further intimated that he’s a man of impeccable character and experience, and that his expertise will be needed in order to move our Country forward. I further assured him that he will be granted due courtesy according to the law as a statesman and outgoing VP.

    “Finally, I did suggest to him to put forth his people that he believes are capable of helping us move Liberia forward. Happy new year to you all.

    “May God bless you.”

  • Election: Peterside, Ex-Eagles keeper, congratulates George Weah

    Ex-Super Eagles keeper, Idah Peterside on Sunday congratulated George Weah, former international star, as President-elect of Liberia.

    Weah, 51, former FIFA World player of the year, polled 722,185 votes, representing 61.5 percent to defeat Vice President Joseph Boakai who scored 457,579 or 28. 5 percent.

    Peterside, also, former media officer of the Eagles, told TheNewsGuru on the telephone from Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday, that Weah`s victory would open avenues for ex-internationals who want to serve their countries.

    “ I believe that the victory of George Opong Weah will open doors for some of us that have served our countries to be given the opportunity to serve in other areas,” he said.

    Peterside said that Weah`s election was a victory for Liberian football and the people for choosing an ex-international who served the country very well.

    “ What a day for football and Liberia. I want to thank Liberians for acknowledging that footballers are like national heroes and treasures,” he said.

    According to him, most players gave their lives playing for their countries and won honours and glories.

    “ We were not even allowed to be President of our football federation, let alone contesting for the house of assembly,” he said.

    Peterside said that ex-internationals deserved to be made commissioners, ministers or top jobs, given their experiences and years of service.

  • George Weah’s presidential election victory speech

    Liberia’s President-elect, George Weah, at a news conference in Monrovia on Saturday has delivered his presidential election victory speech.

    Distinguished ladies and gentlemen

    Madam Jewel Howard-Taylor, Vice President-elect of the Republic of Liberia

    Fellow compatriots

    Today is a day to give thanks. Let us begin by lifting our eyes to heaven to thank God Almighty for the wonderful blessings He has bestowed upon beloved our country. It was God who inspired the people of Liberia to vote change to believe that with this change will come the hope of … in a most prosperous Liberia future. I thank God that among so many presidential candidates, I was chosen to be the 24th President of the Republic of Liberia.

    I am truly blessed and humbled by this divine favour. I thank my darling wife, Clar Weah, and my family who have stood by me over the years, especially in the last 13 years of political struggle. Through the darkest moments of this struggle, my wife and children have remained my pillar of strength. I would not have been able to do this without their untiring support and advice.

    I cannot summon the words to thank the people of Liberia who have made this historic day possible. What the people of Liberia have delivered for the country cannot even be described in words. So, I will ask Liberians here and those throughout the country under the sound of my voice to thank the Liberian people by clapping for one minute.

    I thank you for joining me to celebrate the Liberian people. They are the true heroes and heroine of this victory. Let me also thank the leadership, partisans, supporters and sympathisers of the Coalition we say a big thank you, with special thanks and appreciation going to the Honourable Senator of Nimba County, Prince Yormie Johnson. To the leadership and partisans of the Liberia People Democratic Party, we say thank you. To the leadership and partisans of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) we say thank you, and of course to our own, Congress for Democratic Change, we say a resounding thank you.

    CDCians have sustained the struggle over the years, and without you this victory would not be possible. Two days ago, the world watched me cry. I did not cry because I won. I cried because of the many partisans who lost their lives in the struggle for change. They will never be forgotten. Please join me in a moment of silence in memory of the fallen heroes of our revolutionary struggle.

    We truly thank all Liberians especially the women of Liberia who stood with us in the battle. For that I can truly that the best way to celebrate all Liberians is to improve their lives through the instrument of pro-poor public governance. I declare publicly today that transforming the lives of all Liberians is a singular mission and focus of my presidency.

    Over the next few days, we will assemble the government committed to fighting for the ideas that have inspired our campaign, and dedicated to delivering for the Liberian people. Those chosen to serve will and must be dedicated to the ideas of grassroots, social transformation. Person looking to cheat the Liberian people thorough the menace of corruption will have no place in my administration. We will build on the institutional gains under Madam Sirleeaf to improve the lives of our people. We will build a new institution where necessary to protect rights and engender inclusion among all our people.

    To our Diaspora Liberians, we say come home. This is a new dispensation. We need your skills, your ideas, your expertise and talents so that together we will build our common patrimony. To our development partners we say a big thank you for the support you have provided over the last 12 years. As we embark upon this transition, we call for renewal and strengthening of this partnership. We know that aid flows have declined in the last few years. In our view this decline is not good for the current transition – at least in the short term. While we work to grow the Liberian economy and expand our revenue base, medium term aid would be needed to support projects that would be critical to our long term growth.

    To investors we say Liberia is open and ready for business. Over the long term, private investment will be our key strategy to delivering transformation. We will work to relax constraints to private investment; strengthen the business, legal and regulatory environment, and protect business profits.

    Fellow partisans, I received a concession call from His Excellency Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai. I thanked him and said that in the interest of our people, we will work together. He is a statesman and also my neighbour. If I have to walk over to greet and get advice from him, I will. That is what neighbours are for.

    To other political parties, we are not enemies. We welcome you with open arms as we all strive to build our country. This election was a contest in ideas, and not a clash of political personalities. Our ideas have prevailed but that does not mean you do not have a contribution to make. We need to bring our country together to secure our peace and work harder towards national unity and development.

    To the iron lady of African, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, we say thank you for the peaceful transfer of power that is about to take place. Yours is a legacy in democratic empowerment, and we promise to follow your footsteps in protecting the rights of Liberians and providing even greater freedom. We will build on the foundation you have laid to achieve more for all of our people. Your job is not yet done, Madam President, as we will continue to count on you to strengthen our outreach to both development partner and investors, all in the direction of moving our country forward.

    Let us all work hard to build our country; only then will the creed in our national anthem ring true:

    In union strong success is sure

    With God above

    Our rights to prove

    We will o’er all prevail

    Thank you

     

  • Weah pledges grassroots social transformation

    Liberia’s President-elect, George Weah, has declared that social transformation especially at the grassroots would be the “singular mission and focus’’ of his administration.

    Weah made the promise while delivering his victory speech at his party’s headquarters in Monrovia on Saturday.

    He pledged to improve the lives of ordinary Liberians through the instrumentality of pro-poor governance.

    He also promised to tackle corruption, which is a big issue in the country, and improve the business environment to attract investments.

    “I declare publicly today that transforming the lives of all Liberians is the singular mission and focus of my presidency.

    “Over the next few days, we will assemble the government that is committed to fighting for the ideas that inspired our campaign, and dedicated to delivering for the Liberian people.

    “Those chosen to serve will and must be dedicated to the ideas of grassroots social transformation.

    “Partisans looking to cheat the Liberian people through the menace of corruption will have no place in my administration,’’ he declared.

    Weah thanked outgoing President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for sustaining peace in Liberia over the last 12 years, and for her commitment to the first democratic transfer of power in 73 years.

    He said his administration would build on the institutional gains made by Sirleeaf, but quickly assured that change would be made where necessary.

    The president-elect said the country was open and ready for business, calling on investors, partners and Liberians in the Diaspora to join hands with his administration to build the economy.

    “We will work to relax constraints to private investment, strengthen the business, legal and regulatory environment, and protect business profits,’’ he said.

    Weah extended a hand of fellowship to his rival in the just-concluded presidential runoff election and outgoing Vice President Joseph Boakai, saying he will be counting on his advice and contributions.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that expectations are high especially among young Liberians, his support base, for job creation and poverty reduction.

    While he was delivering the address from the party’s conference room, a crowd of singing and dancing youths gathered outside the building.

    They held placards and banners bearing inscriptions such as “CDC will support agriculture’’.

    Thirty-four-old Lawrence Menden, an IT professional, said he had no doubt in the ability of Weah to “take Liberia out of the woods’’.

    “Some people do not believe that Ambassador Weah has what it takes to perform as President, but they should wait and see; the man will surprise them,’’ he said.

     

  • Transforming lives of all Liberians is my singular mission – George Weah

    Liberia president-elect, George Weah, has declared that social transformation especially at the grassroots would be the singular mission and focus of his administration.

    He disclosed this while delivering his victory speech at his party’s headquarters in Monrovia on Saturday.

    The former football start promised to improve the lives of ordinary Liberians through the instrumentality of pro-poor governance.

    Weah said: “I declare publicly today that transforming the lives of all Liberians is the singular mission and focus of my presidency.

    “Over the next few days, we will assemble the government that is committed to fighting for the ideas that inspired our campaign, and dedicated to delivering for the Liberian people.

    “Those chosen to serve will and must be dedicated to the ideas of grassroots social transformation.

    “Partisans looking to cheat the Liberian people through the menace of corruption will have no place in my administration.”

    Weah thanked outgoing President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for sustaining peace in Liberia over the last 12 years, and for her commitment to the first democratic transfer of power in 73 years.

    He said his administration would build on the institutional gains made by Sirleaf, but quickly assured that change would be made where necessary.

    The president-elect said the country was open and ready for business, calling on investors, partners and Liberians in the Diaspora to join hands with his administration to build the economy.

  • PDP congratulates Liberian President-elect, George Weah

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday congratulated the Liberian President-elect, George Weah on his victory in what it described as “keenly contested Presidential election.’’

    A statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja, also congratulated all Liberians for a peaceful and successful transition.

    The peaceful transition according to the party is a testimony that democracy has taken firm roots not only in Liberia but also on the African continent.

    “Equally commendable is the commitment of the Liberian National Electoral Commission for its internal reforms that paved the way for a credible election in consonant with the wishes and aspirations of the people.’’

    Ologbondiyan said that Nigeria as a leader in the West African Sub-region, especially during the PDP rule, played key role in ensuring the political stability in Liberia.

    He said that Nigeria must continue to show direction by ensuring the consolidation of democratic practices and culture both at home and in other countries in the sub-region.

    The PDP urged the Chairman of the Independent National
    Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to ensure credible elections in 2019, by insulating the commission from external interference.

    Ologbondiyan also urged the commission to ensure that it “weeds out all
    compromised officials’’, who could be used by undemocratic forces to try to subvert the will of the people.

    “Finally, we urge Nigerians to join in strengthening our democratic practice through active participation in political education and mobilisation to ensure an enduring electoral process’’.