Liberian President George Weah, who succeeded Johnson Sirleaf thanks the United States for help in probing the missing money.

Charles Sirleaf, who was deputy governor of Liberia’s central bank, is one of five officials, including the bank’s ex-head Milton Weeks, who’ve been charged.

This follows the 16 billion Liberian dollars – about 1,4 billion rand – in new bank notes that went missing between 2016 and last year.

Most of it has since been found in the central bank vaults.

The court in Monrovia heard Sirleaf had allegedly ordered printing of the money and pockets some of the proceeds. 

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Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf insists the money did not disappear on her watch.

Cash-strapped Liberia had new bank notes  printed in Sweden, Lebanon and China.

The missing notes appear to have  been part of the consignment from the Scandinavian country.

Officials said initially it came in last year, when Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was still President.

Website Frontpage Africa claims it has documentary evidence that the missing notes actually were signed for in March and April this year, after President George Weah was at the helm.

Weah has made fighting corruption a cornerstone of his presidency. 

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His appearance comes  16 years after he hung up his boots as one of the world’s biggest football stars.

At 51, Africa’s first winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year, was expected to receive congratulations.

Liberia had arranged a football friendly against Nigeria to retire the number 14 jersey worn by their new  president while he was an international..

Instead George Weah donned the red national colors and received a  standing ovation when he joined the match and played for 79 minutes of the game.

Nigeria, who fielded a number of English Premiership and Turkish players in their team, won the fixture 2-1.

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At a push, politicians might discuss their vulnerabilities. Sporting stars never do.

So when George Weah talks about the pitfalls awaiting him as Liberia’s President, the football  ace holds sway over the relatively new politician.

“I am a human being he.” he says. “I strive to be excellent. I can succeed.”

No room for doubt there.

Many doubted that he could make it in the top European football leagues when he left Liberia to seek sporting fame.

And he delivered.

The jerseys he pulled over his head look like football-who’s who. Monaco, Paris Saint Germain, AC Milan, Chelsea, Manchester City.

To seal the deal he’s  the only African to win the coveted international footballer of the year award.

So who will question the ability of this 51-year-old who started kicking a ball in the Monrovia slum where he was born.

They said he was under qualified, so he cracked a business degree from a US university.

He failed to beat Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2005 when she became Africa’s first elected woman president.

But quitting is not George Weah. He became a senator in 2014 and contested for the presidency again. Successfully.

For him and for Liberia, this is only the start of  the match.

Liberian youth supported him overwhelmingly .

They comprise 60 percent of the country’s 4,6 million population.

Disappoint them and turn a generation against politics.

From great hope comes the possibility of great disillusionment.

In a country where 14 years of civil war is a living memory and where poverty, corruption, illiteracy inequality and under development are daily grinding realities this is a recipe for disaster.

Hardly surprising that on the eve of his inauguration Weah left the field, having played a friendly football match against an Army XI, saying his first priority is keeping the peace.

On the hustings he promised to beat corruption, establish better schools and create jobs.

In an economy  highly reliant on rubber and iron ore and dependent on foreign aid to make budgetary ends meet he has his work cut out creating jobs.

Transparency International declares that corruption in Liberia is endemic, permeating through all sectors of society.

So a man with a mountain of political debts to repay having won the presidency has a mountain to climb.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf left a country at peace. But it is a country lagging way down the list on health, education and development.

George Weah goes into the match more than couple of goals down on the first leg.

Let us hope that the man with a golden boot can confound his doubters and prove us wrong.

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She says she’ll appeal the decision taken by a fraction of the party’s executive committee.

Africa’s first elected woman president was expelled from the party for allegedly not supporting her deputy Joseph Boakai in the election to succeed her.

That contest was won by former football star George Weah who will be inaugurated later this month.

Weah was beaten by the 75-year old she won her second term six years ago.

Information Minister Eugene Nagbe says the Unity Party decision at the weekend was unconstitutional.

Accordingly Johnson Sirleaf’s expulsion is illegal.

This has been the first peaceful transition of power in Liberia since 1944.

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Former football ace George Weah has won that race to replace Africa’s first elected woman President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Official results have yet to be announced in Liberia.

But the result is so cut and dried that world leader, including President Jacob Zuma, are congratulating Weah.

It’s imperative that the loser, outgoing Deputy President Joe Boakai ,accept defeat and allow Liberia’s first peaceful transition of power since 1944.

Ensuring that happens is top of Obassanjo’s to do list.

The four Liberian presiden before the incumbent Johnson Sirleaf either died in office or were forced into exile.

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Both candidates maintain they’re confident of victory.

After a peaceful campaign, it’s vital the loser accepts the results avoiding further legal battles.

The turnout yesterday was lower than for the first round of voting seven weeks ago.

Both Deputy President Joseph Boakai and former football star George Weah have made confident statements.

Analysts say Weah, who was beaten in 2005 by outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has garnered most support from the youth.

Since they make up the majority of the 2,2 million voters, it could spell victory for the former AC Milan star.

Both he and Boakai have promised, if elected, to revive Liberia struggling economy and to kickstart infrastructure projects.

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Authorities not have to select a date for a re-run that will complete the first smooth transfer of power in 73 years in the former US colony.

The race to succeed Africa’s first elected woman president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will now be take up between football star George Weah and Vice President Joseph Boakai.

They emerged as frontrunners in the first round  of voting two months ago.

Neither won an outright majority, necessitating a re-run.

The process was delayed by claims of electoral fraud.

The Supreme Court ordered an investigation that has not produced enough evidence to delay the process any further.

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Continental and regional partners have been called in to mediate.

Football star George Weah won Liberia’s presidential election to fill the seat vacated by Africa’s first elected woman President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

But he does not have an outright majority, so today’s run-off was scheduled with Joseph Boakai.

Boakai has supported third-placed Charles Brumskine’s allegations of electoral fraud.

The Supreme Court has ordered the electoral commission urgently and expeditiously to investigate these claims.

Meanwhile the country remains in limbo until a new run-off date can be determined.

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It’s investigating allegations of irregularities by Charles Brumskine who ended up in third place after the October 10 poll.

Liberia’s first independently run election since the end of its civil war 14 years ago left football star George Weah and Vice President Joseph Boakai in first and second place.

Neither has attracted an outright majority, necessitating a run off.

Third-placed Charles Brumskine, who’s out of the running,  alleges there was fraud.

The supreme court’s ordered an  investigation of these and other  charges and maintains there won’t be enough time to complete this by next week.

Electoral commission officials have been ordered to appear in court today

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