TheCable

Liberia’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) has announced Joseph Boakai as the winner of the country’s presidential election.

On Monday, Davidetta Lansanah, NEC president, said Boakai won with 50.64 percent votes to defeat incumbent George Weah.

Weah had already conceded defeat on Friday evening, based on the results of more than 99.98 percent of the polling stations.

Weah described Boakai’s lead as insurmountable and congratulated him on his victory.

Several leaders, including President Bola Tinubu and Goodluck Jonathan, former president of Nigeria, who led a mediation mission for the election, commended Weah for accepting the outcome of the keenly contested poll.

They also praised the former soccer star for keeping to his commitment of overseeing free, fair, and peaceful elections.

A run-off between both Liberian leaders was triggered after neither candidate got more than 50 percent of the votes in last month’s first round.

Boakai who served as vice-president between 2006 and 2018, and was previously the minister of agriculture, campaigned on a pledge to “rescue” Liberia from a number of issues, particularly corruption and a lack of basic services.

Following his victory, the president-elect said he would closely review mining concessions to make sure they benefit Liberia.