Image: President George Weah. Source: Facebook | George Weah

Former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai of the Unity Party (UP) was elected President of Liberia after the reading of the results by the National Election Commission (NEC) yesterday evening with 99.58% of the total vote counted in the runoff election. Boakai and the outgoing President George M. Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), were the two top candidates for the presidential runoff following the October 10 general election.

President Weah did the unthinkable last night for an African leader by giving his concession speech shortly before midnight. Having realized the odds of surmounting the remaining votes were not in his favor, the president threw in the towel in a radio broadcast to the nation; ending his run for another six years in office. President-elect Boakai has yet to address the Liberian people.

President-elect Joseph N. Boakai. Source: joeboakai2023.com

In 2018, Weah succeeded Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf with a pro-poor agenda promising to lift disenchanted Liberians out of poverty. But Liberians felt left out of the system, and complained about government’s inability to control corruption, illegal drugs, poor health services and unclean streets and neighborhood.

While the government did deliver some promises such as road connectivity, education, housing and recreational arenas for some, the president is said to have underdelivered on most of his promises and his achievements were not tangibles that improved their lifestyle.

Reactions to the president’s concession have been overwhelmingly swift and positive, prompting some to call him a selfless man of peace.