By:M. Neywon Mengonfia & Evelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh
Unity Party Secretary General Mohammed Ali told EyeWitnessNews that the President struggled to finish his speech due to induced heat, but the President is healthy and has resumed his duties.
“Heat exhaustion contributed to the few minutes of disruption in his speech, but the speech ended successfully and the president was advised by his doctors to return home. Additional 3 to 4 fainted, but they were much younger, and the president was not taken to the hospital. Everything went well, the president is doing well. The president has resumed his normal presidential duties, Mohammed Ali said.
According to Ali, the disruption was caused by heat rather than a health issue since there was no cooling system. While he was unable to attend the inauguration lunch, Ali said President Boakai’s condition has stabilized.
Social media platforms in Liberia became abuzz with well-wishes for President Boakai’s recovery, while some expressed concerns about his ability to lead the country. Liberia has had two transitions of power since the civil unrest, with Boakai taking over after George M. Weah. At the event, former presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Weah were seen holding hands and laughing together in a friendly manner.
President Boakai declared an end to business as usual in his inaugural address. As president, he promised to strengthen the rule of law, fight corruption, and empower Liberians. During the campaign, he said he’d start a rescue mission in his first 100 days to rekindle hope among the people who voted for him. He also stressed that his leadership would extend beyond his supporters, emphasizing nationalism over partisanship. Boakai emphasized the need for unity and a collective effort after the elections.
