By: Frank P. Martin
MONROVIA: A day following the official pronouncement by the National Elections Commission (NEC), for the Presidential runoff slated for November, 2023, incumbent President George Manneh Weah of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), has vowed to defeat at the ballot box, his opponent, Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai of the former ruling Unity party (UP).
With 100 percent of the total votes counted in the October 10 polls, none of the Presidential candidates managed to attain the required 50% plus one of the total valid votes to avoid a runoff.
As things stand, votes are divided between President Weah and Boakai; thus creating a repeat of the December, 2017 polls, when Boakai was heavily defeated by Weah, then, an opposition Senator.
The NEC’s result show President Weah with a lead of 804,087 votes, representing 43.83 percent of the total votes tallied, while Ambassador Boakai closely followed with 796,961 votes, accounting for 43.44 percent.
Considering these results from the October polls, Weah told his Supporters in Congo Town on Wednesday that they should get prepared to celebrate repeat of the 2017, owing to the fact that Liberia’s opposition politicians, headed by Boakai, are not prepared to lead the state and its people with numerous competing national and global challenges.
“Get Prepared again CDCians to celebrate the defeat of Boakai and supporters because history will remember us. We will not rest to move in trenches to solidify your support to seeing this a reality,” a visibly reinvigorated President Weah said to thunderous applause from party stalwarts and well-wishers who had gathered at the Coalition for Democratic Change Headquarters on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 to hear their leader address them for the first time after casting their ballots.
Weah, who had gone to the Party’s headquarters to thank his partisans and supporters for voting him in the first round of elections, promised to improve on key sectors of governance, including human rights and the rule of laws; the fight against corruption, peace and security, and most importantly, education and health.
He admitted that though there were challenges in tackling corruption but when re-elected in November, the government will be tough on alleged perpetrators of corruption, as evidenced by the restructuring of Liberia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), and other anti-corruption institutions.
“Basically, we have set the stage for fighting corruption by restructuring the LACC with seven (7) member commissioners to ensure that corruption in public space is fought to the highest level in the history of the country,” Weah assured.
He did not state specifically how the renewed fight against corruption would be carried out.
The Liberian Leader who, his supporters and other admirers considered “Bad Roads Medicine” also promised to connect the fifteen (15) political sub-divisions of the County with paved roads during his second six-year constitutional term in office if he is reelected come 14. November, 2023.
His administration, according to regime apologists, has considerably paved major community roads in Monrovia and its environs.
Alpha pavements are being carried out in other parts of the country, including the Ganta to Zwedru corridor, Gbarnga to Vonjama road etc, aimed at reducing travelling constraints and increasing trade and commerce.
“My administration will connect the fifteen counties capital with paved roads before my second term gets expired. Our people long time suffering, caused as a result of road condition will be laid to rest when you give me the second chance,” he pleaded.
Rallying for re-election in November Weah vowed to increase public sector workers’ salary, especially civil servants, whose salaries are believed to be affected as a result of the Weah’s government’s previous salary harmonization scheme, intended for “equal pay-equal work.”
“We will increase the salaries of our health workers and teachers. We will also increase pay for other government line ministries and agencies’ workers for full implementation of the decent work act of the Republic,” he added.
