Sirleaf Handed Me ‘A Broke Country,’ George Weah Laments

Football legend and newly elected Liberian President, George Weah, has lamented how his predecessor, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, handed him “a very broke country”.

Speaking with journalists in Paris, France, on Tuesday, Weah decried alleged sordid corruption that preceded his administration.

The former footballer had taken over power from Sirleaf on January 22, 2018, after emerging winner of the October 10, 2017, presidential election that held in the country.

He equally decried the economic scourge that befell Liberia after a long-lasting Ebola outbreak in the country.

“I inherited a country that is very broke, depleted by political malfeasance. We have to make sure that the things that happened will not happen again,” Weah was quoted as telling journalists in Paris.

“I ordered a complete audit to make sure that what belongs to the government goes to the government.”

Speaking on his plans to give the country a facelift, Weah said his administration will focus on providing quality education for young Librarians who constitute about 60 percent of the country’s 4.7 million population.

“I believe in education. Yes, I didn’t have the opportunity in my early days but after my carrier I went back to school. Today I can boast of a master’s degree.

“Liberia is the oldest African country but we don’t have an engineering school. We don’t even have a diagnosis centre to tell if someone has Ebola.”

The new Liberia President is expected to meet President Emmanuel Macron of France on Wednesday.

It was learnt that Weah will equally meet with several sports figures, and Vice President of the World Bank for Africa, Makhtar Diop, at the meeting slated to hold at the Elysee Palace in France.