By Ibrahim A. Sherif
MONROVIA, Sept. 30 (LINA) – As President George M. Weah turns 55 years on October 1, 2021, Liberians from all walks of life have joined in the celebration of their leader while highlighting various achievements by him as he transitioned through a life of sports to politics.
The Liberian leader, who leads a life rooted in humble beginnings, has been emulated by Liberians, particularly youths from different backgrounds. They see him as an embodiment of grass-root success, having lived in the slums of Gibraltar on Bushrod Island in Monrovia for most of his youthful days with his grandmother.
Born unto the union of Mr. William T. Weah Sr. and Madam Anna Quayeweh Weah on October 1, 1966 on the Capitol Bye pass, Monrovia, Montserrado County, President Weah started to come to prominence in the sporting arena when he donned the number 14 jersey for the Young Survivors soccer club from 1981–1984.
He later represented the Bong Range United soccer club for one year from 1985–1986 and subsequently moved to the ‘Kanyan Pepper Boys’ of Mighty Barrolle from 1985–1986 where he appeared for the Red Boys 10 times. notching seven goals.
The Liberian and African soccer star in search of more silver wear continued his soccer journey at the Invincible Eleven (IE) Football club in Liberia, representing the Liberia ‘Darling Club’ where he appeared 23 times, scoring 24 goals.
His soccer career took on a new trend after dumping Tonnerre Klara Football Club of Cameroon two goals to zero, thus encouraging the Cameroonian side to commence an immediate negotiation for the professional soccer service of the player who would become the only African Ballon d ’Or winner.
Mr. Weah went on to represent his new side, Tonnerre Klara Football Club of Cameroon where he bagged 14 goals from 18 appearances.
From 1992–1995, George Weah represented Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 96 times, scoring 32 goals for the Parisians.
He later travelled to Italy to continue his quest for success on the global stage, where the African celebrated soccer star played for AC Milan from 1995–2000.
During his glittering career in Italy, where he won the Ballon d’Or and the European Best Player Awards in 1995, Weah defended AC Milan on 114 occasions, scoring 46 goals for the Red and Black outfit.
The Liberian football legend also represented Chelsea, Manchester City, Marseille, and Al Jazira from 2000, 2000-2001, and 2001 -2003 respectively.
After retiring as a professional footballer, Mr. Weah, who served as a humanitarian worker during and after the 14-year civil conflict in Liberia, announced his entry into politics in 2005 with the establishment of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), a political institution which incorporated a group of mostly young Liberians.
In 2005, Mr. Weah finished second to veteran Liberian politician and former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in a presidential runoff election.
In the 2011 general and presidential elections, Weah ran as Vice Presidential candidate to seasoned Liberian politician Winston Tubman, but the pair was again defeated by incumbent Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of the Unity Party.
Being undaunted, Weah made another attempt at the Liberian presidency, winning overwhelmingly the 2017 polls, where he amassed votes from 14 out of the nation’s 15 counties.
After his landslide victory in 2017, Mr. Weah’s government crafted a policy document in line with his party’s manifesto, becoming known as the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
The PAPD, which is a five-year development plan of the Weah-led government, consists of four pillars which include Power to the People, The Economy and Jobs, Sustaining the Peace and Governance and Transparency.
The PAPD paves the way for infrastructural development through road connectivity, construction of housing units across the country, building health, school, market facilities and then instituting free tuition policy for public educational institutions, especially universities, among others.
As the Weah-led government strives to substantially deliver on its campaign p1romises, through the institution of additional economic policies, among others, the era of renewing the government’s pledge rests with the forthcoming General and Presidential Elections in 2023.
And from the look of things, the populist regime led by Weah is well on course to receiving yet another mandate from the Liberian people.
LINA IAS/WSG/PTK
