Monrovia, the Liberian capital, will be agog on Monday as former football star, George Weah, will be inaugurated as the President of Liberia.
Weah defeated incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai in the delayed presidential runoff election on December 26 to become the president-elect.
It will be the first transition of power from one democratically elected president to another in Liberia’s political history.
Present and past leaders of countries around the world, according to the Chief Protocol of Liberia, Mr Jarvis Witherspoon, had indicated intention to grace the occasion.
Top on the list of the dignitaries is President Muhammadu Buhari.
Said Witherspoon: “We have very important personalities coming from all around the world.
“The countries we have already that have confirmed that their presidents would be coming are Ghana, Togo, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, Cape Verde, South Africa, Gabon, Nigeria (and) Guinea Bissau.
“The Prime Minister of Senegal will represent his country. We also have several former presidents of African countries who will be attending.
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“The United States of America will have a congressional committee and also a special envoy of the President of the United States of America will be in attendance. “There will also be a special envoy from France and Egypt. We expect that the list is going to get longer.’’
Also expected, it was gathered, are representatives from the European Union Parliament and other international groups, including world football governing body, FIFA.
International football stars including Nigeria’s Taribo West and Sunday Oliseh, are expected at the event.
Witherspoon said 900,000 U.S. dollars had been earmarked for the event while security was guaranteed.
The Deputy Inspector-General (Operations) of the Liberia National Police, Mr Abraham Kromah, said adequate security arrangements had been made for a hitch-free inauguration.
He said as part of the security measures, the Robert International Airport in Monrovia would be closed from 7 p.m. on Sunday.
