Joseph Boakai on Monday has been inaugurated as Liberia’s president, succeeding former football star George Weah.

Boakai, 79, secured victory over Weah in November’s run-off poll with 50.64 percent of the votes to 49.36 percent.

The swearing-in ceremony took place in the capital Monrovia, attended by foreign leaders and diplomatic delegations.

Boakai, who previously served as vice president from 2006 to 2018 under Liberia’s first female president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, brings 40 years of political experience to his new role.

Despite losing to Weah in the 2017 election, Boakai’s return to the presidency is marked by high expectations from Liberians.

Boakai has pledged to address corruption, widespread poverty, and a weakened justice.

A former local official, Larry Nyanquoi, highlighted the expectations placed on Boakai’s presidency: “Expectations of Boakai’s presidency are high. He is seen as somebody who has not engaged in corruption and one who has tried to live the simplest possible life.”

Boakai’s agenda includes job creation, economic improvement, institution strengthening, and a vigorous fight against corruption.

The new president also faces the challenge of ensuring a stable supply of electricity and water, improving road infrastructure for investment, and addressing the failure of the outgoing government to establish a war and economic crimes court.

Commenting on the pressing issues, analyst Abdulla Kiatamba emphasized the need for Boakai to bring about tangible change: “Every leader has promised to crack down on corruption and they have failed, so he has to say something different. They have promised improved economic conditions and they have also failed, so he has to say and do something that will be different.”