REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR. GEORGE MANNEH WEAH 

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA 

AT THE SIXTY-FOURTH ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE ECOWAS 

AUTHORITY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT 

ABUJA, NIGERIA 

DECEMBER 10, 2023

Your Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, 

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and  

Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government; 

Distinguished Excellencies Heads of State and Government of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS; 

The President and Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission; 

The Right Honorable Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament; 

Your Honor Mr. President of the Community Court of Justice; 

His Excellency Mr. Leonardo Santos Simao, 

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and  

Head of the UN Office for West Africa, and the Sahel (UNOWAS) 

Honorable Ministers and Other Distinguished Guests; 

I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for the brotherly reception and the excellent facilities accorded my delegation and I since our arrival in Abuja to attend this Sixty-fourth (64th) Ordinary Summit of our Community.

Excellencies, I wish to inform you that I am nearing the end of my six-year term of Office as President of Liberia. I am proud to say that we fulfilled our promise to have a peaceful, transparent, free, fair, inclusive, and credible elections. And this has been acknowledged by all stakeholders.

Following a hard-fought campaign and two rounds of polling, my rival, former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, won the elections. I have since conveyed my congratulations and wished him every success as the next leader of Liberia.

This will be only the second time in nearly eighty (80) years that the Republic of Liberia, will be experiencing a peaceful transition of power from one democratically-elected President to another democratically-elected President through Constitutional and institutional processes: the first time being when I acceded to the Presidency six (6) years ago.

EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

My party may have lost these elections, but the true victors, the true winners, are the people of Liberia, who have made their leadership choices of their own free will.  The Liberian people have spoken, and we have heard their voices.  As is often said, and I quote: “The Voice of the People, is the Voice of God.“

In my view, these elections have re-affirmed our democratic credentials as a nation, and our continuing success as a post-conflict country.  This should be seen as a positive and significant  accomplishment not only for Liberia, but for our West African region in particular, and Africa in general.

EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

Consequently, this may be the last Summit of the Authority that I will attend in my capacity as President of the Republic of Liberia.

As a mark of friendship and solidarity, I would therefore like to take this opportunity to invite all of you to grant us the honor of attending the Inauguration Ceremonies on January 22, 2024, to witness my handing over of power to His Excellency President-Elect, Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.

It is my fervent hope that the smooth transition of power in Liberia will resonate throughout our ECOWAS region, as we seek to galvanize our efforts in attaining enduring peace and democracy.

I also call on Your Excellencies to extend to my successor, His Excellency President-Elect, Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., the same high level of support that I have been fortunate to receive from you during my tenure as President of Liberia.

EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

Although I take leave of you today with mixed feelings, because there is still much left to achieve I am proud of the significant progress that has been made in our region,. In this regard, let me take this opportunity to reiterate that Liberia remains committed to being a champion for peace and democracy in Africa.

As I conclude, I would like to personally thank each of you for your support and brotherly affection extended to me throughout the years. I now humbly ask your indulgence as I excuse myself to return to Liberia to attend to matters pertaining to the ongoing transitional process that is underway, to inaugurate a new President while I go return to life as an opposition leader.

I thank you for your kind attention.  Obrigado!  Merci!