President Weah Accepts Grand Bassa Citizens Endorsement, Fires Back at Ex-VP Boakai

BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa County – With less than 90 days to Liberia’s presidential and legislative elections, hundreds of citizens in Grand Bassa County over the weekend endorsed the re-election bid of Presidential George Weah.

The endorsement program began with a massive parade from the main street of Buchannan to the Fair Ground where the citizens presented their endorsement statement highlighting the “unprecedented developments” taking place across the county.

Addressing a crowd of jubilant supporters, the President vowed to continue his developmental initiative in the county if elected, but sharply reacted to the opposition Unity Party’s standard bearer Joseph Boakai after the former VP said the president was a bobo lawmaker when he served as Senator

Recently VP Boakai told his supporters that while serving as Vice President and President of the Liberian Senate, President Weah, then Senator was always quiet and hardly spoke on any major issue or debate. And it was not a surprise that he has dismally performed as President.

But responding to the Unity Party, President Weah said he actually participated in sessions and formed part of major debates, but each time he raised his hands, VP Boakai, as President of the Liberian Senate, was always sleeping.

“Just the other day, someone said that when I was in the Senate, as president of the Senate, George Weah did not put his hands up. My people, in a very soft tone, yes, you are correct. You did not see my hand up because every time I put it up, you were sleeping,” he said.

With less than three months to Liberia’s crucial elections, major political parties have begun engaging the electorates, convincing them to win their votes. Last week, former Vice President Boakai led the Unity Party and affiliated political parties to Bong and Nimba Counties. At each stop, a mammoth crowd greeted them, and addressing them, Boakai and his team promised to liberate Liberia from the “bad leadership” under   President Weah. They accused the Weah-led government of reneging on his promise to deliver a better and accused him and his government officials of engaging in massive corruption.

However, addressing scores of supporters in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County over the weekend, President Weah said, contrary to Amb. Boakai’s claims, he ably represented Montserrado County as Senator.

He boasted of being the only Senator among 30 lawmakers to speak against the high cost of passports. Through his advocacy, he said the cost of a passport was reduced.

“For the first time, [Senator] Albert Chea recognized me that the 29 people said passports will be 50usd, and I, George Weah said it will never happen. Yet, someone said when I was in the Senate, I didn’t talk. I can’t just talk. When I talk, I must say the right things at the right time. That’s why I can be successful in what I can do.”

He said contrary to his critics’ claims, his government remains the best ever in the history of Liberia. Under his watch, he said he has built more hospitals, roads and housings than any other Liberian President.

Although Weah and his cabinet officials often make those claims, there has been no empirical evidence to back their claims. Recently, Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah claimed that the current government has paved 627 kilometers out of the total 1,372 kilometers of paved roads in the entire country. But Local Voices Liberia Fact Checking established that the finance minister was incorrect.