November 18, (THEWILL) – Liberia’s President, Goerge Weah, has conceded victory to his long-time political rival, former Vice President Joseph Boakai, even before the official announcement of the results of their tightly fought 14 November presidential run-off election.
Weah, a former world footballer, in his concession speech, confirmed that he had telephoned “President-elect” Boakai, 78, to congratulate him on his victory, hours after Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) announced that Boakai had edged him by 50.89% to 49.11% from 99.58% of the poll results processed by Friday, November 17.
Although the Commission has yet to announce the complete official results, the former footballer said his “(Coalition for Democratic Change) CDC has lost the election but Liberia has won.”
“Under my leadership, these elections were organised with a promise to the Liberian people – a promise of fairness, peace, inclusiveness, transparency, and credibility,” Weah said, adding: “I am proud to say that we have fulfilled that promise. The Liberian people have spoken, and we have heard their voices.
“I remain your President until the handover of power, and I will continue to work for the good of Liberia. Let us heal the divisions caused by the campaign and come together as one nation and one united people.”
George Weah, 47, was sworn in as President of the West African nation on January 22, 2018, marking the country’s first democratic transition of power since 1944.
