Almost 10 hours have passed since the inauguration, and the government is yet to be formed. Despite having two months to prepare, the President and his senior management team seem to have faced challenges in promptly establishing a government from day 1 of their governance. This delay raises questions about the efficiency and decision-making capabilities of the nascent administration.
In an outdoor ceremony held in Monrovia, Liberia’s new president, Joseph Boakai, experienced an episode of heat exhaustion that compelled him to curtail his inauguration speech. Despite defeating George Weah in a runoff election in November, Boakai’s momentous day was overshadowed by this incident. The 79-year-old leader, sworn in amid sweltering heat, had to pause during his speech, with aides rushing to fan him. After a brief resumption, he again halted, requiring assistance to leave the podium, thereby truncating the ceremony.
However, the presidency later clarified that Boakai had recovered from exhaustion, and doctors deemed him “perfectly fine.” He has resumed normal activities and is expected to engage in meetings with the Ghanaian President and other dignitaries on the same day, as mentioned in the official statement released by the president’s office.
During the election campaign, some of Boakai’s opponents had expressed concerns about his age and energy levels. Despite such criticisms, his team dismissed these reservations, and Boakai now faces the task of leading the nation, potentially under scrutiny due to the delayed formation of the government and the incident during his inauguration speech.
