Liberia's new president Boakai vows to tackle graft as he takes the helm

Liberia's new president Joseph Boakai pledged to fight corruption in the West African country as he was sworn into office on Monday following his election victory over former football star George Weah.

Liberia's president-elect Joseph Boakai gives a speech after he was sworn in as president during the inauguration ceremony in Monrovia, Liberia, on 22 January 2024. © Carielle Doe / Reuters

"We see hard times, we see dysfunctioning... we see corruption in high and low places. And (it's) in these and similar conditions that we have come to the rescue," Boakai declared at his swearing-in ceremony.

Boakai, whose age and health are the source of much discussion in the country, had to pause and sit down to finish his address in testing heat.

He then stressed the need to rebuild poor infrastructure, improve basic services for everyone and ensure all Liberians are given the same chance of succeeding.

High expectations

The investiture in parliament was attended by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and US ambassador to the United Nations 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.

The 79-year-old narrowly beat former Ballon d'Or winner Weah in November's run-off poll, with 50.64 percent of the vote to 49.36 percent.

The poll was peaceful in a region that has seen a succession of military coups in recent years in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger.

• Final results show Joseph Boakai has been elected president of Liberia

But the small nation of five million has been plagued with corruption, high levels of poverty and a weak justice system, after years of back-to-back 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, who enjoys strong support in northeastern Nimba County, but is under US sanctions.

One of Johnson's associates, Jeremiah Koung, was nominated as Boakai's vice-president.

Unity and reconstruction 

Liberians expect Boakai to create jobs, improve the economy, strengthen institutions and fight corruption, one of his key campaign pledges.

"Expectations of Boakai's presidency are high," according to Larry Nyanquoi, a former local official in Nimba County.

Boakai is "seen as somebody who has not engaged in corruption and one who has tried to live the simplest possible life."

Liberians also expect Boakai to ensure a stable supply of electricity and water, and to improve the road infrastructure to attract investment, Nyanquoi said.

Liberia shows how it's done. After George Weah (L) enjoyed Liberia's 1st peaceful transition of power since 1944 when he took over the presidency in 2018 from Ellen Sirleaf, today saw governance peacefully transferred to new President Joseph Boakai, who defeated Weah. Congrats 🇱🇷 pic.twitter.com/x0GORyg1c4

— James Hall (@hallaboutafrica) January 22, 2024

The new president also said that fighting corruption would be a priority and promised a "smooth and peaceful" transition.

"Every leader has promised to crack down on corruption and they have failed, so he has to say something different," Abdulla Kiatamba, an analyst at Geo Baraka Group of Strategists, said of Boakai.

"They have promised improved economic conditions and they have also failed so he has to say and do something that will be different."

After his win, Boakai called for unity to rebuild Liberia and promised to "extend development to the whole country", in particular by building roads in the southeast.

 (with AFP)