- Title: Liberia President Weah seeks re-election after chaotic first term.
- Date: 6th October 2023
- Summary: MAMIE TOGBAH, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, PLACING INGREDIENTS ON A TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Liberian Pidgin English) SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND WEAH SUPPORTER, MAMIE TOGBAH, SAYING: “He's doing something for the country. He's not doing it for me in person, but my grandchildren, and other children that are coming up. For me, I will die, but the children coming up will enjoy it. So that's
- Embargoed: 20th October 2023 09:02
- Keywords: ELECTION GOVERNMENT LIBERIA POLITICS WEAH WEST AFRICA
- Location: MONROVIA, LIBERIA
- City: MONROVIA, LIBERIA
- Country: Liberia
- Topics: Africa,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA002693004102023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PART VIDEO QUALITY AS INCOMING
Liberia's President George Weah has a message for voters ahead of Tuesday's election: he needs more time. After a first term marred by corruption allegations and continued hardship, many still need convincing.
The former soccer star, who came to power in 2017 on a wave of popular support after two unsuccessful attempts, said he was on track to deliver progress in the poverty-stricken West African country, despite the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic that he said derailed his plans.
Weah, 57, who had a storied soccer career, rising from the slums of Liberia to the summit of world soccer playing for top clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, will face 19 candidates in the presidential election.
His main challenger is former Vice President Joseph Boakai, 78, who he defeated in a runoff in 2017 and who is known as "Sleepy Joe" for allegedly falling asleep at public events.
Weah has built hospitals and introduced free education in a country still struggling to emerge from two devastating civil wars between 1989 and 2003, and a 2013-16 Ebola epidemic that killed thousands.
But some voters say they are disappointed by his failure to improve living standards or tackle corruption and a growing narcotics problem among destitute youths.
"George Weah said he was coming for change...But now, they came and everything has gone worse, more then Boakai’s time. Everything is hard," said Monrovia-based small business owner Josephine Musa.
Last year, Weah fired his chief of staff and two other senior officials after the United States imposed sanctions on them for corruption. In 2018, a Liberian court issued arrest warrants for more than 30 former central bank officials in connection with $104 million that went missing.
Analysts say Weah will likely win in the second round because he enjoys the incumbency dividend, and his success story of a former football star who rose from poverty continues to appeal to voters.
As in 2017, Weah is campaigning on building new roads, a timely subject during elections which come around during the rainy season when much of the country's unpaved routes are cut off from the capital Monrovia by bad weather.
The country's economy that is largely depended on agriculture and iron ore mining for revenues, is expected to grow by over 4% in 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund.
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