FOLLOW THE STEPS OF JOHN MAHAMA ,PAUL KIGAMI AND OTHERS - DR Jones Cooper advises Weah

Liberia's 2017 elections came at a time that the country is facing several challenges. The economy is facing serious challenges including high inflation, repeated budget shortfalls and weak revenue mobilisation. The Ebola crisis of 2014/15 also affected the country and downturn in iron ore and rubber prices complicated issues for the economic management team of the outgoing administration. The country saw steady growth rate of 5-8% and sharp increases in export revenue in the first term of Madam Sirleaf. This advancement did not improve the lives of most Liberians, 64 % who fall below the poverty line. Nepotism and corruption became a ritual under the outgoing leader. The President promoted relatives to senior positions and many of them saw their positions as a route to amassing personal wealth. The election was also largely a referendum on Sirleaf's 12- year presidency and Boakai's pseudo incumbency. Liberians were yearning for practical solutions to the problems. Boakai's choice of self presentation in the campaign was a delicate balancing act, knowing that his boss's record and reputation as a president were mixed. Weah, was the presidential runner- up in 2005 and Vice Presidential runner up in 2011, his huge and glittering football career made him popular with the youth and he successfully garnered strong support in the capital Monrovia and his ancestral homeland in the South-East. He was fortunate to have Jewel partnered him. She added votes to the ticket of Weah's because of her support in the populous Bong County.

Boakai leaned on the usual ethno- regional bases to shore up support but that was not enough to secure him what he envisaged. His mantra of "roads roads" was not bought by many Liberians who assessed his message based on performance of his own government. Unemployment, weak infrastructure, education, corruption and security were the issues voters took critical look at.

Weah has a herculean task ahead looking at what he has inherited. He must take advantage of his relationship with some of the continent's transformational leaders such as John Mahama of Ghana, Paul Kigami of Rwanda etc and learn from their experience. He must find out from them how they courageously lead exploration of all routes to the promised land. Finding the way can be an ongoing process of course correction. In the case of Ghana under John Mahama, those of us who lived in Ghana during the Liberian War, know how the man's radical vision and implementation have transformed the country. People will always follow leaders who inspires them and that is what Weah should take note of. Mr Mahama and other visionary leaders on the continent have successfully made their countries great because they had the vision and the passion to achieve their visions. The way to get things done is by injecting enthusiasm and energy and put passion and energy into everything.

President Weah should resist the temptation of embarking on gigantic populists projects and policies. After his first term Liberians will assess his performance based on their economic situation not over ambitious projects. A good leader takes every opportunity and will use whatever work to convince the masses to climb on board the bandwagon. You don't necessarily have to joke with the conscience of the masses by embarking on huge and populist projects with their deadly medium to longterm effects on the economy. Many African countries have changed their leaders and most of them have regretted for buying into lies and half truth told them by the opposition. I hope and pray the Weah government doesn't suffer same public backlash and massive expression of disappointment in the administration. The economy under the outgoing administration suffered serious setbacks, nepotism, corruption, waste and weak educational system landed the country in a huge hole. These are the issues the star footballer must tackle immediately

Dr Jones Urey Cooper
(Journalist, Senior Research Officer UNESCO)FOLLOW THE STEPS OF JOHN MAHAMA, PAUL KIGAMI AND OTHERS- Dr Jones Cooper advises Weah.

Liberia's 2017 elections came at a time that the country is facing several challenges. The economy is facing serious challenges including high inflation, repeated budget shortfalls and weak revenue mobilisation. The Ebola crisis of 2014/15 also affected the country and downturn in iron ore and rubber prices complicated issues for the economic management team of the outgoing administration. The country saw steady growth rate of 5-8% and sharp increases in export revenue in the first term of Madam Sirleaf. This advancement did not improve the lives of most Liberians, 64 % who fall below the poverty line. Nepotism and corruption became a ritual under the outgoing leader. The President promoted relatives to senior positions and many of them saw their positions as a route to amassing personal wealth. The election was also largely a referendum on Sirleaf's 12- year presidency and Boakai's pseudo incumbency. Liberians were yearning for practical solutions to the problems. Boakai's choice of self presentation in the campaign was a delicate balancing act, knowing that his boss's record and reputation as a president were mixed. Weah, was the presidential runner- up in 2005 and Vice Presidential runner up in 2011, his huge and glittering football career made him popular with the youth and he successfully garnered strong support in the capital Monrovia and his ancestral homeland in the South-East. He was fortunate to have Jewel partnered him. She added votes to the ticket of Weah's because of her support in the populous Bong County.

Boakai leaned on the usual ethno- regional bases to shore up support but that was not enough to secure him what he envisaged. His mantra of "roads roads" was not bought by many Liberians who assessed his message based on performance of his own government. Unemployment, weak infrastructure, education, corruption and security were the issues voters took critical look at.

Weah has a herculean task ahead looking at what he has inherited. He must take advantage of his relationship with some of the continent's transformational leaders such as John Mahama of Ghana, Paul Kigami of Rwanda etc and learn from their experience. He must find out from them how they courageously lead exploration of all routes to the promised land. Finding the way can be an ongoing process of course correction. In the case of Ghana under John Mahama, those of us who lived in Ghana during the Liberian War, know how the man's radical vision and implementation have transformed the country. People will always follow leaders who inspires them and that is what Weah should take note of. Mr Mahama and other visionary leaders on the continent have successfully made their countries great because they had the vision and the passion to achieve their visions. The way to get things done is by injecting enthusiasm and energy and put passion and energy into everything.

President Weah should resist the temptation of embarking on gigantic populists projects and policies. After his first term Liberians will assess his performance based on their economic situation not over ambitious projects. A good leader takes every opportunity and will use whatever work to convince the masses to climb on board the bandwagon. You don't necessarily have to joke with the conscience of the masses by embarking on huge and populist projects with their deadly medium to longterm effects on the economy. Many African countries have changed their leaders and most of them have regretted for buying into lies and half truth told them by the opposition. I hope and pray the Weah government doesn't suffer same public backlash and massive expression of disappointment in the administration. The economy under the outgoing administration suffered serious setbacks, nepotism, corruption, waste and weak educational system landed the country in a huge hole. These are the issues the star footballer must tackle immediately

Dr Jones Urey Cooper
(Journalist, Senior Research Officer UNESCO)