I inherited a ‘broke country’ – Liberian President, George Weah cries out

New President of Liberia, George Weah, Tuesday said he inherited a “broke country” from his predecessor, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

He, however, pledged to fight endemic corruption in the country.

George Weah, who took over office on January 22, is faced with a dire economic situation following two civil wars and a deadly Ebola epidemic that broke out in the country some years back.

He told reporters in Paris, France, where he is currently on official visit, “I inherited a country that is very broke, depleted by political malfeasance. We have to make sure that the things that happened will not happen again.

“I ordered a complete audit to make sure that what belongs to the government goes to the government.”

Weah also said his top priority as president was education for young people, who represent 60 percent of 4.7 million Liberians.

He added, “I believe in education. Yes, I didn’t have the opportunity in my early days but after my carrier I went back to school. Today I can boast of a masters degree.”

“Liberia is the oldest African country but we don’t have an engineering school. We don’t even have a diagnosis centre to tell if someone has Ebola,” Weah said, vowing to do more to get children in school and “to leave the street”.

Weah is expected to meet with French President, Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday at the Elysee Palace, along with several sports figures, and Vice President of the World Bank for Africa, Makhtar Diop.