George Weah has announced his second attempt to become president of Liberia as the 1995 World Player of The Year confirmed he was formally standing as a candidate in the 2017 election.
Weah, whose clubs included Milan, Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City in a glittering career, said in the capital, Monrovia, that he had the vision to transform the country when Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s final term ends next year. The 49-year-old also pledged to increase the national budget, work towards religious harmony, and support vocational education.
“Our gathering here today is about the future of our country and our people,” said Weah. “In the last 10 years our people have continued to live in abject poverty, education a mess, health delivery system a disaster, electricity and pipe-borne water elusive.
“Like many of you, I have been a victim of poverty. There were times I didn’t have school fees.”
Weah lost to Ms Sirleaf in the 2005 election and failed in a bid to be vice-president in 2011. He is currently a senator.
