• President-elect George Weah Promises Pro-Poor Public Governance, Sources: FrontPage Africa and News Public Trust
• Joint Transition Team Hold First Meeting Ahead of January 22 Inaugural, Sources: FrontPage Africa and News Public Trust
• Rivals to Good Neighbors: Weah Meets Boakai, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• ECC Urges Weah, Taylor , Liberians to Manage Expectations, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• ALJA Congratulates Liberia’s President-elect George Weah, Sources: FrontPage Africa and News Public Trust
• NEC’s BoC Rule in Favor of Rep. Younquoi But Mianah runs to Supreme Court, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• Liberia President-elect Calls for Foreign Investments, Source: VOA News
• Morocco, Liberia vow to strengthen bilateral ties, Source: Xinhua
• Morocco’s king congratulates Liberia’s new president, vows to enhance bilateral ties, Sources: Brinkwire and Xinhua

President-elect George Weah Promises Pro-Poor Public Governance, Sources: FrontPage Africa and News Public Trust

Liberia’s President-elect, George Weah, has assured Liberians that transforming the lives of all Liberians would be the “singular mission and focus of my presidency”. Mr. Weah made the statement while delivering his acceptance speech Saturday in Monrovia. “I can truly say that the best way to celebrate all Liberians is to improve their lives through the instruments of pro-poor public governance.  I declare publicly today that transforming the lives of all Liberians is a singular mission and focus of my presidency,” he asserted.

President-elect Weah made little promises during his campaign period but his acceptance speech was lofty with promises, noting that in the next few days, he would be forming a government that is committed to fighting for the ideas that inspired his campaign. “Those chosen to serve will and must be dedicated to the ideas of grassroots, social transformation,” he added.

He told the press gathering that his administration would have no room for people who will “cheat the Liberian people through corruption”. He promised to build on the institutional gains made by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. “We will build a new institution where necessary to protect rights and foster inclusion amongst our people,” Mr. Weah said. Read more

Joint Transition Team Hold First Meeting Ahead of January 22 Inaugural, Sources: FrontPage Africa and News Public Trust

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and President-elect Senator George Weah Sunday co-chaired the first meeting of the Joint Presidential Transition Team (JPTT) in the Cecil Dennis Auditorium at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The team, the first of its kind over 70 years, will organize the smooth transfer of power on 22 January 2018 which will be the third working Monday of the month. Vice President-elect Senator Jewel Howard Taylor also took part in the meeting.

Welcoming President-elect Weah and his delegation, President Sirleaf thanked the leader of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) for responding to her invitation.  The president said this was something new and, therefore, will take some serious level of coordination between the two teams, each of which comprised 15 persons.

President-elect Weah thanked President Sirleaf for setting up the mechanism that would allow for a smooth transition process and said that he and his team will fully cooperate to ensure full success. Read more

Rivals to Good Neighbors: Weah Meets Boakai, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that a distinct feature of Liberia’s nascent democracy — the loser concedes defeat and pledges to work with the winner — was given a boost Monday when President-elect George Weah met with the man he defeated, Vice President Joseph Boakai. The meeting was held at Mr. Boakai’s residence — who in fact lives just down the street from Mr. Weah on Rehab Road in Paynesville City — and reports indicate it was held in an atmosphere of cordiality.

President-elect Weah, along with his entourage at the meeting, said it was meant to seek further collaboration to strengthen the country’s democracy since in his concession speech, Vice President Boakai promised to work with the new leadership whatever way Mr. Weah would feel in the interest of Liberia. Read more

ECC Urges Weah, Taylor, Liberians to Manage Expectations, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) has called on all Liberians, particularly die-hard supporters of the President-elect and Vice President-elect to manage their high expectations. ECC chairman, Mr. Oscar Bloh said George Weah and Jewel Howard Taylor “cannot perform miracles overnight for the changes that are highly expected in the country.” Speaking to the Daily Observer on Sunday, Mr. Bloh said ‘change’ takes time and meeting the required needs of the very ‘change’ is based on principles, law, and policies.

“We understand that there are high expectations of President-elect, George Weah. Some are unrealistic while others are genuine, but an individual control mechanism has to be considered not be purportedly deceived by individual’s expectation and shifts the blame on the new leadership,” the ECC head said. Read more

ALJA Congratulates Liberia’s President-elect George Weah, Sources: FrontPage Africa and News Public Trust

The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) has congratulated George Weah and Jewel Howard Taylor of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), on their elections as President and Vice President of Liberia. ALJA, in a press release issued on Monday, expressed profound sentiments to Weah and Taylor on their ascendency to the two highest offices in Liberia; and admonished them to embrace their elections as a social contract between them and the Liberian people.

The US-based interest group described the overwhelming election of President-elect Weah as a manifestation of the trust and confidence Liberians have in his ability to lead the country at this critical period in its quest for sustained democracy, stability, reconciliation, rule of law, and peaceful co-existence. Read more

NEC’s BoC Rule in Favor of Rep. Younquoi But Mianah runs to Supreme Court, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Board of Commissioners (BOC) of the National Elections Commission (NEC) has reversed the early judgment of its hearing officer, Cllr. John Wonsehleay that announced Saye Mianah, a representative candidate of Nimba County Electoral District #8 as the winner of the October 10 elections, thereby ruling in favor of incumbent lawmaker Larry Younquoi. But Mianah’s lawyers have already excepted to the BOC’s ruling by running to the Supreme Court. NEC chairman, Cllr. Jerome Korkoya, who reversed Cllr. Wonsehleay’s decision, said the hearing officers do not have the legal authority to pass judgment on constitutional issues. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Liberia President-elect Calls for Foreign Investments, Source: VOA News

George Weah gave his first public address as Liberia's president-elect Saturday, telling potential investors that the nation is "open and ready for business'' and calling on Liberians who live abroad to come home. The former international soccer star spoke at Coalition for Democratic Change party headquarters, where he vowed to tackle corruption and asked members of his party to applaud the Liberians who elected him. Weah won Tuesday's runoff with 61.5 percent of the vote over Vice President Joseph Boakai, who got 38.5 percent, according to final results. Read more

Morocco, Liberia vow to strengthen bilateral ties, Source: Xinhua

Morocco and Liberia expressed on Monday their strong willingness to strengthen bilateral ties. The willingness was made during a phone call between Morocco's King Mohammed VI and Liberia's President-elect George Weah, according to a statement from the Moroccan king's office. On this occasion, the king reiterated his warmest congratulations to Weah following his election as Liberia's president, the source said. During the phone call, Weah underlined his strong determination to strengthen the multidimensional relations between Liberia and Morocco, it pointed out. Read more

Morocco’s king congratulates Liberia’s new president, vows to enhance bilateral ties, Sources: Brinkwire and Xinhua

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Sunday congratulated Liberia’s new president, George Weah, on his election victory, while vowing to strengthen the bilateral ties. In a message to Weah, the Moroccan king said the election result shows “how keen the Liberians are to promote the democratic transition and make sure their aspirations for a prosperous future are fulfilled.” The king also hailed the bilateral ties and “African brotherly bonds” between the two countries, adding that he is keen to work with the president to strengthen the relations in all sectors. Read more