Liberian President George Weah has addressed Liberians following a stiffly contested presidential election in which his challenger Joseph Boakai has won. The Liberian Presidential election results is a near split between the two flagbearers.
In the five-minute nation address President Weah said “The Liberian people have spoken and we have heard their voice”.
After 99.58% of the votes were counted, the Liberian Presidential election results in 2023 show that the opposition flagbearer has 28,000 irrevocable votes ahead of sitting president Weah who has been in power since 2018.
He won on a wave of enthusiasm, especially from younger voters, having won that election also against Boakai, by a large margin.
However, public opinion on his inability to tackle corruption, rising cost of living and continued economic woes diminished his chances.
Weah was generous in defeat, saying he has “the utmost respect for the democratic process that has defined our nation,” adding that he had spoken to Boakai who he called the “president-elect”.
Boakai, a 78-year-old political veteran had 50.89% of the votes, while President Weah had 49.11%, according to the electoral commission.
This split, the president says “reveals a deep division within our country” and called on Liberians to “work together to find common ground…unity is paramount for mama Liberia”.
Boakai’s supporters gathered at his party’s headquarters in Monrovia, celebrating after the latest set of Liberian Presidential election results were announced earlier on Friday. The new President would be sworn in in January 2024.
