Goerge Weah biography, life history and bio data as he concedes defeat to Joseph Boakai

Liberian President George Weah called his presidential challenger, Joseph Boakai, to congratulate him on his victory.

"The Liberian people have spoken, and we have heard their voice," he said in a speech to the nation.

With nearly all ballots counted, the opposition candidate has an unassailable lead of 28,000 votes.

President Weah, a former football player, has been in power since 2018. He will leave in January.

He came into the job riding a wave of enthusiasm, particularly among younger voters, after winning that election by a large margin, also against Mr Boakai.

However, a perception that he had failed to combat corruption, rising prices, and ongoing economic difficulties harmed his image.

Who exactly is Joseph Boakai? Boakai Biography

Mr. Weah was gracious in defeat, beginning his five-minute speech by saying he had "the utmost respect for the democratic process that has defined our nation," and that he had spoken with Mr. Boakai, whom he referred to as the "president-elect."

The electoral commission previously announced that Mr Boakai, a 78-year-old political veteran, received 50.89% of the votes, while President Weah received 49.11%.

The president said the race's closeness "reveals a deep division within our country" and urged Liberians to "work together to find common ground... unity is paramount for mama Liberia."

A 20-year civil war that killed an estimated 250,000 people came to an end just 20 years ago.

The latest set of results were announced earlier on Friday, sparking celebrations in Monrovia, the capital.

Mr. Boakai's supporters gathered in the city at his party's headquarters, convinced that he had won the election.

They demanded President Weah's resignation and chanted, "We beat the Buga dancer," referring to a song associated with his campaign.

Following Tuesday's run-off election, the electoral commission says it has announced results from 99.58% of polling stations.

The run-off between Mr Boakai and Mr Weah was called after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round last month. There were a total of 18 candidates.

In that vote, the president received the most votes, but he was only 7,000 votes ahead of Mr Boakai.

The presidential election was the closest in Liberia since the civil war.

Mr. Boakai's campaigning centered on the need to save the country from what he called "mismanagement" by Mr. Weah's administration.

Mr. Boakai's allegations were dismissed by the president, who said he had made significant progress, including instituting free tuition for university students.

This is the fourth presidential election held since the end of the war.

According to the AFP news agency, observers from the regional bloc, Ecowas, deemed the run-off to be largely peaceful.

However, there were isolated incidents that resulted in "injuries and hospitalisations" in the provinces of Lofa, Nimba, Bong, and Montserrado, according to observers.
 

Goerge Weah Biography

Full name: George Manneh Oppong Weah

Nationality: Liberia
Date of birth: 1 October 1966
George Weah age: 58years old

Born in Monrovia, Liberia

Children: Timothy Weah, George Weah Jr., Tita Weah

Spouse: Clar Weah

Awards: FIFA World Player of the Year, MORE

Party: Congress for Democratic Change

Nationality: Liberian

Parents: William T. Weah Sr., Anna Quayeweah

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