Candidate for a second term in October 2023, President George Weah elected at the head of his country with 61.5% of the votes in the second round of the presidential election of December 26, 2017, is once again facing Liberian voters. The former footballer who became President of the Republic must convince again. But with what balance sheet and is that enough to stack up? Explanations.
In the running for the next presidential election in Liberia, there are twenty candidates against the incumbent President, the former football star George Weah.
He was elected with the firm promise to fight against corruption but also to create many job opportunities for young people. For his opponents and many Liberians, these goals are far from being achieved. On the contrary, poverty has increased in the country and corruption has not diminished at all, in contrast to the commitments made by President George Weah during his campaign in 2017.
Indeed, in 2018, there was this case of nearly 100 million US dollars vanished, or 5% of the country's GDP, for which after investigation, the George Weah regime claimed that the money was sleeping in safes and that it was found. Even if some think in turn or rightly that it was to stifle this affair in which the former Governor of the Central Bank, Milton Weeks, and Charles Sirleaf, the son of the former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; were supposedly involved among others. Whether we like it or not, it will have been one of the black points of his mandate.
In any case, if he has done everything to catch up on the other years with a certain number of achievements, nothing is won in advance for the ex-star of international football. He knows that he will have to wet his shirt well by multiplying the meetings of explanations and clarifications. As in the past, he wet his jersey to shine on the stadiums of the world.
George Weah has entered the electoral campaign with full force. The President of the Republic and standard bearer of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), does not intend to leave the initiative to the opposition and in particular the main party of the Unity Party (UP). His main objective being, if possible, to make a knockout in the first round of the presidential election.
On Monday, August 15, facing voters in District No. 4, Montserrado County, the outgoing Head of State reflected on his accomplishments during his tenure. He indicated the major achievements to his credit in six years. Then he asked Liberians to allow him to do more by granting him a second term in the upcoming elections next October. With the key as priorities, the average citizen and all those who are vulnerable or left behind.
Alluding to his opponents, he said the He said there will be an unprecedented level of development under his government and that Liberians should not miss this opportunity to grant him a second term on the back of sugary promises of some failed politicians who won't care about them once they come to power.
“Everything my adversaries and enemies said about me, including that I was inexperienced and unprepared to be President, turned out to be wrong,” President Weah told the huge, packed crowd that turned out. was massaged on this occasion. And to continue: “I did more than what they did during the twelve years that you gave them; and I ask you today to give me another six years to continue on the path of progress that we all started together in 2018”.
President Geoge Weah clearly does not intend to be fooled by his political opponents and other candidates. By indexing those who have spent twelve years in power without bringing anything to Liberia in terms of development. Taking the initiative in the attack, he dwelt on his personal journey. "In my life, I succeed because I am a developer compared to those who have spent more than four decades in government without any trace of development," he said.
Liberia, like most African countries, has a predominantly young population. The outgoing President and candidate for his own succession therefore constantly warns his youth against politicians selling illusions. By putting on the balance his record in favor of the youth of his country.
"It's very easy for people in the opposition to tell young people not to vote for George Manneh Weah but to do it, to tell young people not to vote for me is suicidal because I am the only one who represented them", has to stop hammering President George Weah. And to invoke for example one of its flagship measures, namely free education. Because out of nearly 20,000 students, 8,000 did not go to class for lack of payment of registration fees.
While awaiting election day itself, the electoral campaign continues to be in full swing. And the excellent player that was President George Weah knows that a game is never over until the referee blows the final whistle.
By Jean Kebayo
