The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has described the peaceful handing over of power from one democratically elected government to another in Liberia, and the swearing-in of President George Oppong Weah, as a good day for West Africa and Africa.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the inauguration of President Weah “is an extremely important development in Liberian history, and in West African history. For us, in West Africa, I think the democratic consolidation that so many of us are seeking is taking place, and, that democracy is gradually being entrenched stronger and stronger in the body politic of our different states.”
The President indicated that “it is a good day for Africa; it’s a good day for West Africa.”
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Monday, 22nd January, 2018, when he interacted with journalists, after attending the swearing in ceremony of President George Oppong Weah, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, in Monrovia.
The swearing-in ceremony, which was witnessed by a packed stadium, saw West African Presidents such as, President Allasane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire; Togolese President, His Excellency Faure Gnassingbe; President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou; Senegalese President Macky Sall; Guinean President, Alpha Conde; and the President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, amongst several others, gracing the occasion.
Whilst acknowledging that President Oppong Weah has his work cut out for him, he urged the New Liberian President to build on the legacy bequeathed to him by his predecessor, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
“President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was preoccupied with establishing the basic things after the civil war. She’s been able to that. Now it is a question of building on them to grow the Liberian economy, so that all of these young people who voted for him, who are out of work, can find work to do in the very near future,” he said.
