Liberia’s New President Boakai Pledges to Revise Economy in Speech Cut Short Due to Heat
- New president paused twice during speech on Capitol grounds
- Boakai defeated President Weah in Nov. 14 run-off vote
Joseph Boakai
Photographer: Rami Malek/APThis article is for subscribers only.
Liberia’s new leader Joseph Boakai pledged to revive the country’s economy and reduce hardships in his inauguration speech that was cut short because of extreme heat.
The swearing-in ceremony in the capital, Monrovia, for the 79-year-old former vice president to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf abruptly ended on Monday after Boakai had to take two breaks during his speech due to heat exhaustion. He has resumed his duties after his doctors declared him “perfectly” fine, the presidency said in a statement later on Monday.