Football legend, George Weah was sworn in as Liberia’s new president today in the country’s first transition between democratically-elected leaders since 1944.
Weah, 51, took over from Nobel laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who spent 12 years at the helm, steering the West African nation away from the trauma of a civil war.
He took his oath of office at exactly noon inside the 35,000 capacity Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia. Supporters queued for kilometres (miles) to reach the stadium, singing, dancing and waving the Liberian flag as they waited.
He was sworn in as president by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Francis Korkpor.
At least eight African Heads of States, including President Muhammadu Buhari represented by Vice Present Yemi Osinbajo, and international soccer stars witnessed the ceremony.
Weah has vowed to make prosperity and job creation the hallmarks of his presidency.
Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking a mere 177th on the 188 countries in the Human Development Index compiled by the UN Development Programme.
