Monrovia, Liberia, December 20, 2023: The Inaugural Committee says the January 22, 2024, inauguration of President-Elect Hon. Joseph N. Boakai and Vice President Elect Jeremiah Koung will take place on the grounds of the West African nation’s Legislative seat, the Capitol Building.
A release issued here today, copy of which was served this paper, and signed by Jonathan Paye-Layleh, Chairman of the Inaugural Steering Committee’s Sub-Committee on Media and Communications said that several events will precede the inaugural program, including a prayer service on Friday, January 19, 2024, at the Benson Street Mosque, and a youth concert on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
The release said that an intercessory service is scheduled for Sunday, January 21, 2024, at the Effort Baptist Church in the residential district of Paynesville, near the Liberian Capital Monrovia.
Former Vice President Boakai won the November 2023 round off Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election when the 20 candidates who contested the October 2023 contest did not win 50% plus one of the votes cast as required by the country’s Electoral Laws.
President Weah, who was elected in 2017 on the ticket of the Congress for Democratic Change -CDC conceded defeat and congratulated President-Elect Hon. Joseph Boakai before the announcement of the final results by the National Elections Commission.
In a surprising twist, CDC Campaign Manger, Maritime Commission Chairman Eugene Nagbe without evidence claimed that the results were rigged against the CDC. Nagbe’s statement did nothing to change the results and President Weah’s concession.
The international community including the United States, the European Union, African Union as well as the West African Economic group, ECOWAS marked the elections as free, fair an transparent.
President Weah constituted an inter-party Transitional Team that comprised of twenty members each for the ruling CDC, the outgoing President’s party, and the Unity Party of President-Elect Dr. Joseph Boakai.
The release indicated that swearing in ceremony is planned for January 22, 2023 at the Capitol Building for be followed by a Presidential luncheon to be announced at a later date.
The release noted that the the Inaugural Steering Committee is slated to hold a press conference at the country’s Ministry of Information on Capitol Hill on December 21, 2023 at 10:30 AM when Committee Chairperson Madam Miatta Fahnbulleh will address the media.
President Elect Boakai is currently in the United States where he travelled after the outcome of the November polls. He addressed a cross-session of Diaspora Liberians and state officials in Providence, Rhode Island over the weekend. During the speech, which was his first since the election, President- Elect Boakai reaffirmed an exclusive government of Liberians and rallied the Diaspora Liberia as partners of the new administration to strive for the rebuilding of the West African nation.
During the Week, he meet with senior U.S. State Department officials including the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs at which time he outlined the priorities of his incoming government with the view of consolidating U.S. Government support and collaboration. The United States is Liberia’s traditional ally. Liberia traced its founding from the United States following the abolition of slave trade in the United States.
Following back to back civil war that murdered over 250,000 people, Liberia returned to democratic rule in 2005 in which the Unity Party ruled for two consecutive six years term before a Weah led CDC won in 2017.
