As George Weah, at one time named the world’s best footballer, marks a year in power in Liberia the BBC’s Jonathan Paye-Layleh assesses his scorecard.
There is no doubt that at 52, George Weah can still work a crowd.
On New Year’s Eve he invited his cabinet and supporters to the dedication of a private family church that he has had built.
During the late-night service, the president turned preacher, sermonising for several hours.
Dressed in white robes, he told the congregation at Forky Jlaleh Family Fellowship Church: “God has given each and every person talent that they can use for their own benefit.”
And he likened the opportunity to serve in his government to being on a football team.
“When you are on the pitch playing you should know there are others on the substitutes’ bench ready to replace you at any time,” he said.
This elicited cheers from the church-goers, but acknowledges the pressure the government is under.
In its end-of-year message, the Liberia Council of Churches summed up the inevitable frustration felt after the euphoria of Mr Weah landslide victory.
“About a year ago, we elected a government with the hope that economically, our lives would be transformed,” Kortu Brown, president of the umbrella Christian group, said on local radio station Prime FM.
“But most often what we hear is the negative side of the governance process, the economic challenges… by way of corruption, abuse, frauds, wastes.”
The opposition People Unification Party had more of a stark warning for a country still scarred by years of civil war: “At the end of your first year, our people, your people are hungry; the bread and butter issue keeps getting worse
“[A] poorly performed economy is not a good sign for peace and security; when people are hungry they are most definitely angry; Liberia is angry because its people are hungry.”
His critics point to one of his first priorities – the retirement of his number 14 shirt, worn during his playing peak – to illustrate what they feel is his lack of vision.
Week-long ceremonies were organised in the capital, Monrovia, with Arsene Wenger, the football coach who had signed him up for Monaco in 1998, being flown over in September and given Liberia’s highest honour.
The president, who retired from football in 2003 to go into politics, played an international friendly as part of the events so the crowds could see him finally hang up the jersey he wore for the national side.
It is easy to see that President Weah is a role model for many young Liberians – growing up in a slum in the capital, Monrovia, becoming one of the world’s most famous footballs stars and then going back to school and university afterwards to finish his education before winning the presidency.
Seven things about George Weah:
– Born 1 October, 1966, grew up in a slum in Liberia’s capital
– Signed by Arsene Wenger to Monaco from Cameroonian club Tonnerre Yaoundé
– Made Monaco debut in 1987, went on to play for AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea
– Only African to win Fifa World Player of the Year
– First ran for president in 2005, losing to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
– Graduated with a business degree from a US university after being accused of lacking education
– Inaugurated as president in January 2018
