Liberia Elections Ex-footballer Weah wins run-off to become Liberia's president

CGTN Africa

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf: The anger that may have revealed itself at the ballot box

On December 24, 1989, change revealed itself to Liberia through the uncompromising power of BULLETS that took away the lives of about 250,000 people. Interestingly, Liberia's president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was an engineer of the revolution at the time. Exactly 28 years after, change revealed itself again, but this time, through the BALLOTS. Liberians went to the run-off election on December 26, 2017, to elect a new president to replace outgoing president Ellen Sirleaf. The run-off was between soccer legend George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change and Vice President, Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party.

Whoever president Sirleaf-Johnson voted for is her privacy, but the facial expression seen in this photo sent out a strong message. Voting, I think,  should be a joyful expression of everyone's political will which determines who leads and who does not.  When one wears a facial expression, like that of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's while making a conscious decision, to me, sends a strong message of anger, and as the songwriter says, "don't make a decision when you're mad (angry)". The anger that she wore didn't derive from being deprived of self-worth or basic social services like the ordinary Liberians. It definitely didn't come as a result of not ending her two terms in office. As a president for 12 years, it should have been a happy moment, but for Ellen, it didn't seem. Many questions may arise from this photo considering the last months of political rivalry and electoral problems in Liberia. Regardless of President Sirleaf's facial expression, a vote was cast and a winner and a loser will be determined in two days when the National Elections Commission announces the results.

Before my next article on this issue, I will speak to a psychologist on how voting with anger impacts a conscious decision.

And the winner is...

The winner is...

Education is a key ingredient for acquiring political knowledge and leadership

By Saki T. Golafale

"Being academically knowledgeable" or "to know book" as it is said in Liberia, has become a major point of discussion in our body politics. One group of people has condemned the essence of academic education as a basic requirement for political leadership while another group holds onto the belief that education matters for political leadership, especially for the presidency. 

When Senator George Weah stepped into the presidential race in 2004, it wasn't strange to many who followed our politics during the Charles Taylor's era when it was rumored that Mr. Weah was eying the presidency. Very soon, while Liberians were still nursing the agonizing experiences from the war, they were faced with the huge task of deciding between a highly educated Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and a football icon, George Weah, who barely had a high school education. Did education matter by then? To many, it didn't matter. However, the result of the 2005 elections did answer some questions. Whether it was based on the lack of solid education and political experience that robbed Mr. Weah the chance to lead one of the poorest countries in the world or it was Mrs. Sirleaf's highly rated and energized campaign that handed her the golden opportunity of becoming Africa's first elected female president, the result of 2005 presidential election does matter to Liberians. Mr. Weah's loss to Mrs. Sirleaf in 2005, regardless of how history records it, has, to a greater extent, influenced Liberia's democracy. A democracy where the debate over who is educated or politically educated to lead is still ongoing. 

An evidence to this is Mr. Weah's cognizance of his limited education to lead which might have prompted his decision to further his education. After 13 years, the essence of education to political leadership still remains a debate. Mr. Weah now presents himself as a bachelor and masters degrees holder, which were missing from his CV in 2005. He has also represented the people of Montserrado in the Senate for three years. On the other hand, Vice President, Joseph Boakai, with a BA degree, presents a long list of public service experience, including being vice president for 12 years. As Abraham Darius Dillon would say, "going by academic credentials Weah is or should be more educated than Boakai". Whether  Mr. Dillon was being sarcastic or not, this is a fact. Does the difference in academic credential end the debate of educated vs uneducated? It certainly doe not! Mr. Weah has been labeled as "uneducated" by some of his supporters and nonsupporters despite his reportedly "earned" degrees. A recent outburst of social media posts by Liberia's education minister, George K. Werner, in support of Mr. Weah confirms this. For this, Mr. Werner has been condemned in many quarters and labeled "unqualified" to serve as minister of education. Contrary to Werner's argument. Weah reportedly went to "school" to get himself prepared for the presidency. 

It is generally known that acquiring academic degree differs from being considered "educated". While education is not only about academic papers but also about how one conducts himself for the general good of society, three university professors define education as not merely of bookish facts but the fundamental ability to think clearly. Does Mr. Weah think clearly before he speaks? Do his statements correlate with what he does politically? The evidence of Weah's poor output unveils every time he speaks in public or on an interview. His thoughts on important issues drift far apart from reality and make one question his political judgment and his ability to lead. 

In recent times, Mr. Weah told Liberians that "protecting Elen Johnson-Sirleaf" is his most important agenda as president. He has also expressed his desire to support Robert Sirleaf's bid for the Senate if he joins his CDC party. More interestingly, his criticism of the Sirleaf's government has naturally died and recently went on to grade her government 80%, something many political pundits rated him low. On his sharpness on socioeconomic issues, Mr. Weah has presented one of the most wired economic approach to budget shortfall as seen directly quoted below (unedited).

" When rice is expensive and you know da you got a shortfall in the budget, then reduce the price of rice so those who all da na even working but can make ends meet can buy it. So dor when there shortfall, we can na again support scarcity. You understand? What need to be done for allor us because we have a responsibility."

It is mind-boggling to think that Mr. Weah was serious when he made those statements, but his body language, as seen in this video confirms his seriousness at the issue. Additionally, Mr. Weah's speeches, to a greater extent, makes no sense to many. His famous speech in Nimba County and many others are reasons to condemn Weah's master's degree. While his education remains a question, his political education also remains blurry as "education is a key ingredient for acquiring political knowledge" in this modern time. Has Mr. Weah acquired political knowledge to lead Africa's oldest republic? Has Mr. Weah demonstrated his ability to lead based on proposed policies as a real political leader would do? Certainly not!

We must be glad to know how education has influenced our nation and the democracy we enjoy, but the question of who is "educated" or "uneducated" and politically knowledgeable to lead will continue to surface in our body politics. We haven't reached a point in our history where people are punished for being "educated" or "uneducated". But we have reached a point where we can collectively set standards as to who leads and who does not. While Mr. Weah himself has not publically agreed that he lacks solid education and knowledge of political leadership, despite his embarrassing and distorted speeches, it is evident that Weah's continuous expression of his ignorance of political leadership has resonated with many, and that for which, voters will have on their minds at the ballot box.

About the author: Saki Golafale holds a BSc. degree in chemistry from the University of Liberia and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Clark Atlanta University where his research focuses on functional materials for gas adsorption and photochemistry. He hails from Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia. He can be reached via email at stgolafale@gmail.com 

Snowfall in Marietta Georgia

An unexpected snow day in Marietta, Georgia where I spent time shooting photos and videos of anything that had snowflakes.  It was an amazing experience. I made a short video with photos and thought to share with you. What a day it was!

Me building snow tower on my car

Stop Snow Now!

I know this might sound stupid to most people, but I am making a global call to STOP SNOW NOW. 😂

Nature's Beauty

When nature makes a blend, its beauty pops out. Snowfall in Marietta, Geirgia, on this Christmas tree, in my back yard, looks so amazing and speaks to the mouthwatering beauty of nature. 

Supreme Court of Liberia: Run-off Election Despite Challenges of Fraud

The Supreme Court of Liberia, today, ruled for a run-off election despite a challenge from Liberty Party's Charles Brumskine that the October 10 poll was graced by massive fraud and irregularities. The ruling automatically gives the National Elections Commission (NEC) the authority to schedule a run-off election between football legend, now Senator, George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change, and incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party.  Senator Weah reportedly received 38% of the total votes in the October poll while Vice President Boakai and Cllr. Charles Brumskine received 28% and 9.6% respectively. Cllr. Brumskine of the Liberty claimed that the October 10 election was not handled in accordance with the constitution of Liberia, and he called for a re-run. The Unity Party had also challenged the October 10 results. A hearing held at the National Elections Commission dismissed both LP/UP claims of fraud and irregularities. Upon the dismissal of the case by NEC board of commissioners, the aggrieved parties took an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia. The ruling from the Supreme Court rests on the provision of insufficient evidence being provided by LP/UP to nullify the October 10 election.

The winner of the run-off, which will most like be scheduled this December, will replace Africa's first elected female head of state, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Liberia has enjoyed peace for the last 14 years since the end of the country's 14 years civil war. This transition from Mrs. Sirleaf to either VP Boakai or Senator Weah will mark a historic transition in 70 years.