IPNEWS: The oldest elected president of Liberia, Joseph Boakai was on January 22 sworn in as 25th president following a narrow victory over George Weah
President Joseph Boakai was on Monday, January 22, 2024, sworn in as Liberia’s oldest president, following his narrow victory over former President George Weah.
At inaugurated at the age of 79, President Boakai assumed the country’s highest office with the challenge of tackling poverty and corruption.
The 79-year-old narrowly defeated Liberia’s former footballing President George Weah who seeking re-election after only six years in office.
President Boakai’s victory over Weah fallowed a heated runoff election in which Boakai, obtained 50.64 percent and Weah 49.36 percent according to the results announced Liberia’s National Elections Commission.
Boakai has dismissed concerns about his age, arguing that it came with a wealth of experience and achievements that would benefit the country.
ØMembers of Liberia’s House of Representatives, on January 15 of this year, elected Representative J. Fonati Kofa as Speaker of the 55th National Legislature
In a closely fought election for the leadership of the 55th National Legislature, Fonati Koffa on January 15, 2024, emerged victorious after defeating his contender Richard Koon.
Though Speaker Kofa was inducted but now face a battle of removal by majority of his colleagues of the House of Representatives who have accused him (Kofa) of multiple wrongdoings.
The struggles to maintain quorum has created an impasse as that august body currently has two speakers for the first time with Representatives Richard Nagbe Koon of the governing Unity Party serving as speaker of the “majority bloc” while Speaker J. Fonati Kofa of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change, leading the “minority bloc”
Koffa’s victory not only signifies a shift in leadership within the legislature but also reflects the dynamics of Liberia’s political landscape.
Ø The Supreme Court of Liberia on August 28 of this year acquitted Liberia’s former Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott who and other members of her family were accused of killing the late Charloe Musu of the Scott family
The Supreme Court of Liberia in August of this year, acquitted Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, and other members of her family who were held by the Government of Liberia on allegations of murdering the late Charloe Musu of their family.
Located at the Temple of Justice, the Supreme Court is the final arbiter of justice in Liberia and the interpreter of the Constitution of Liberia
The 70-year-old former chief justice and her three female relatives were acquitted by the supreme court of Liberia after been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of her 29-year-old niece Charlotte Musu and has now been rewarded by her longtime political ally president Joseph Boikai as Acting NOCAL Board Chair
In August 28 of this year under review, Liberia’s former justice minister and chief justice Gloria Maya Musu-Scott was acquitted of the murder of her niece by the country’s Supreme Court.
The 70-year-old and three female relatives had been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal killing in February 2023 of 29-year-old Charlotte Musu.
The case gripped the nation as Ms Musu-Scott had been one of Liberia’s most famous judges and politicians, a champion of women rights and at the time of her conviction had just won a significant case against the electoral commission as part of the then-opposition party’s legal team.
A jubilant crowd greeted them outside the jail as they were freed after serving more than eight months.
Shortly afterwards, Ms Musu-Scott said she and her family rejoiced in their release but she lamented the state of the justice system.
ØLiberians on November 28, 2024 woke up with the shocking news of the death of Former Liberia warlord and senator of Nimba County, Prince Johnson.
On November 28 of this year, Liberians woke up to the shocking news of the death of former warlord and senator of Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson, who oversaw the brutal murder of former president Samuel Doe as civil wars rocked the country.
Prior to his death, Mr. Johnson won three nine years terms as senator of Nimba County, contested as President in 2011 and 2017, a preacher and was known as the political kingmaker.
Senator Johnson died at the age of 72.
“It is true that he died this morning,” family member Moses Ziah told BANA FM on early Thursday morning.
Family spokesperson Wilfred Bangura also confirmed that Johnson, who suffered from high blood pressure, died during the early morning hours of November 28, 2024.
More than 200,000 people were killed and thousands more mutilated and raped as over 1 million were displaced in brutal civil wars that tore apart Liberia between 1989 and 2003 in which Johnson played an active role.
Johnson rose to notoriety after his men captured, tortured and mutilated former president Doe before executing him.
In a now infamous video from 1990, Johnson was seen celebrating with cans of Budweiser and looking on as his fighters sliced Doe’s ear off with a knife before executing him.
