Liberians will be voting next week in their fourth general
election since the end of the second civil war in 2003.
Against this backdrop, the African Elections Project sheds
light on the leading presidential candidates who are vying for the nation's
highest office on October 10 2023.
Although 20 candidates have been cleared by the National
Elections Commission (NEC) to contest in this year’s general elections, two
prominent presidential contenders have emerged as frontrunners. They are
incumbent President, George Weah and former Vice President Joseph Boakai.
As the elections inch close, let’s delve into the profiles of these leading presidential hopefuls, examining their backgrounds, policy stances, and the local dynamics that influence their campaigns.
George Weah
George Weah, a former professional footballer and the incumbent President of
Liberia has had a fair share of ups and downs in his political journey in
Liberia. Having served as a United
Nations goodwill ambassador following the ousting of President Charles Taylor
in 2003, Mr.Weah contested for the presidency in 2005 under the Congress for
Democratic Change (CDC) party but lost to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in a runoff
election.
In 2011,
Weah teamed up as a vice presidential candidate on the CDC ticket with Winston
Tubman. Following the duo’s challenge of the election results and boycott of
the runoff, Johnson Sirleaf was re-elected.
Weah
successfully ran for the position of senator in Montserrado County in 2014 and
later merged the CDC with other parties to form the Coalition for Democratic
Change (CDC) in preparation for the 2017 presidential election. He won the
election with 61.5% of the vote, against then Vice President, Joseph Boakai.
Despite the
initial hope and optimism surrounding George Weah's presidency in Liberia, his
tenure has faced significant challenges and
disappointments.
One major issue was the scandal involving the disappearance of newly printed
Liberian banknotes worth approximately $100 million. Although an investigation later
deemed the allegations unfounded, it revealed a lack of transparency and proper
procedures in the central bank's actions.
The
economic situation during Weah's presidency has also been challenging, with low economic growth, high
inflation, and currency depreciation. Despite disappointment with Weah's
performance, some of his supporters on the streets of Monrovia expressed hope
that he would encourage more investment and job creation, ultimately improving
the lives of the people. They believe that giving Weah more time and support
could lead to positive changes in Liberia's economy.
Joseph Boakai
Joseph Nyuma Boakai is a distinguished Liberian statesman with over 35 years of dedicated
public service in various sectors. He is the leader of the Unity Party. Boakai
played a crucial role as the Vice President of Liberia, serving alongside
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during Liberia's post-civil war recovery and
development. He also contested the presidency in the 2017 elections, running
against George Weah. Throughout his career, he held significant positions,
including president of the Liberian Senate, managing director of the Liberia
Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC), managing director of the Liberia
Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC), and minister of agriculture, where he shaped
agricultural policies and projects.
Boakai's 2023
campaign message focuses on unity and transformation for Liberia. The campaign
aims to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to build a brighter
future for the country, emphasizing the upcoming October 10, 2023 election as
an opportunity for collective action and change.
Alexander Cummings
Alexander Cummings is a Liberian politician,
businessman, and philanthropist. He has a background in international business,
particularly with Coca-Cola, where he retired as the Chief Administrator in
2016. Cummings is the standard bearer of Liberia's Alternative National
Congress and the leader of the Collaborating Political Parties.
In his 2023
campaign, Cummings pledges to prioritize Liberian interests, invest in Liberian
businesses, and support agriculture, among others. He aims to transform the
economy by adding value to raw materials and promoting manufacturing within the
country.
Other candidates
Other
candidates contesting in Liberia’s presidential election include lone female
candidate Sara Beysolow Nyanti (African Liberation League), Edward Appleton Jr.
(Grassroots Development Movement), Allen Brown Jr. (Liberia Restoration Party), Simeon Freeman (Movement for Progressive
Change), Tiawan Saye Gongloe (Liberian's People's Party), Lusinee Kamara Sr.
(All Liberia Coalition Party), David Kiamu (Democratic People's Party of
Liberia), Alexander Kolie (Reformers National Congress), Sheikh Kouyateh
(Liberia First Movement), Bendu Alehma Kromah (Independent), Richard Saye
Miller (Liberians for Prosperity), Clarence Moniba (Liberian National Union) and
Robert Franz Morris (Independent).
The others
are William Wiah Tuider (Democratic National Allegiance), Joshua Tom Turner
(New Liberia Party), Jeremiah Whaploe (Vision for Liberia Transformation), and
Luther Yorflee (Liberia Rebuilding Party).
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