Accra, Jan. 30, - Parliament on
Tuesday praised Liberia on its historic democratic transfer of power and
congratulated President George Oppong Weah for his tenacity that propelled him
into the highest political office of that country.
“I wish to congratulate the
people of Liberia and the President in particular, for this enviable democratic
feat achieved and to use this opportunity to admonish the youth of this country
to emulate HE President Oppong Weah’s example and be assured that irrespective
of wherever you find yourself, with patience, humility, perseverance,
dedication and respect, you can achieve whatever you aspire to do in this
world,” Mr Patrick Boamah, MP for Okaikwei Central, said in a statement on the
floor of the House.
Former soccer icon George Oppong
Weah, popularly known as the “Country Giant,” won the West African country’s
presidential elections last year.
The new President replaced
Africa’s first female President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, making it the first
democratic transfer of power in more than 70 years from the time that President
Edwin Barclay was replaced by President William Tubman.
President Weah, 51 (born on
October 1, 1966), at his inauguration on January 22, 2018, promised a united
nation, toward a future of hope and prosperity; and all will wear “the jersey
of Liberia, and victory belongs to the people, to peace, and democracy.”
Mr Boamah, chronicled the life of
the three time African Footballer of the year, who was also named African
Player of the Century, and his journey into the arena of politics, after his
retirement from football in 2001.
“And in 2005, following the end
of the second Liberian Civil War, he first ran for President, losing out to Mrs
Sirleaf in an election run-off.
“After a number of failed
attempts he was elected as Senator in 2014, becoming the first Liberian
international athlete to represent a country in the Legislature. He was elected
President of Liberia in the 2017 election, winning a run-off against Vice President
Joseph Bokai, who served as Vice President under Mrs Sirlef, by more than 60
per cent of the vote,” Mr Boamah observed.
He commended President Weah, who
despite the lack of formal education, though not a necessary requirement to
become a President, accepted the challenge, and graduated with a business
administration degree from a DeVry University in the United States.
Mr Boamah noted that President
Weah is coming into office at a time “when the expectation of his people and
country, as well as West Africa and the world as a whole is all up to him,” and
wished him well.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa,
Ranking Member on Foreign Affairs and MP for North Tongu, in a related
statement, went down memory lane, recalling and praising Ghana for her
commendable role in supporting Liberia “all the way in what has been an
arduous, tortuous and eventful journey.”
Some of the contributions, the
North Tongu Legislator mentioned, was Ghana’s contribution of troops to the
ECOWAS Economic Community Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) during the two civil wars
in Liberia, facilitating the brokering of peaceful agreements, hosting of
Liberian refugees in Ghana, and Ghana coming to the rescue of Liberia during
the outbreak of the Ebola scare, in addition to Ghanaian educational
institutions that have assisted in building the capacity of Liberian leaders
and professional leaders across board.
“We also do know of the role our
Electoral Commission played in strengthening Liberia’s electoral capacity over
the years, not forgetting the latest support from celebrated former Ghanaian
Electoral Commissioner, Dr Kwadwo Afari Djan, following the directive from the
Supreme Court of Liberia on the need for that country’s electoral commission to
improve ahead of the second round election.”
Mr Ablakwa said the special
invitations extended to Ghana’s current President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo
and Ghana’s former Presidents-Jerry John Rawlings and John Dramani Mahama to
the auspicious inauguration ceremony is ample testimony of the very high regard
and deep sense of appreciation that Liberia has for Ghana.
He congratulated the people of
Liberia and extended the best wishes of the House and Ghana to former President
Sirleaf and President Weah.
GNA
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