Voting in Liberia elections underway as soccer legend Weah seeks second term

2.4M people eligible to vote in 5,890 voting places, says National Elections Commission

JOHANNESBURG

Voting for presidential and parliamentary elections began Tuesday in Liberia with incumbent George Weah, a former soccer legend turned politician, seeking reelection.

Weah, 57, is competing with a total of 19 candidates, who hope to replace him for the West African country’s top Job.


According to the National Elections Commission of Liberia, 2.4 million people are eligible to vote in 5,890 voting places.

Weah’s main challenger in Tuesday’s polls is 78-year-old former Vice President Joseph Boakai, who is contesting for a second time after having lost to Weah in the 2017 runoff elections, according to the Liberian Observer newspaper.


Local media has reported long queues of voters lined up at polling stations waiting to cast their ballots.

Weah is seeking reelection after completing a six-year term in office that critics claim has been marred by corruption and poor service delivery, but the incumbent lists some of his administration’s successes such as investment in education, building roads and providing electricity among others.


Another main contender in Tuesday’s election is businessman Alexander Cummings.


The Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) and the Joint Security said they have temporarily closed the country’s borders to ensure the integrity and fairness of the country’s elections, according to local media reports.