24/01/2024
Amid controversy over his health conditions saga & incompetency to serve the highest position in the land, Mr.Joseph Nyemah Boakai was inducted as the 25th constitutional President of Liberia taking Over from President Weah January 22,2024 at Capitol building.
President Boakai won the run of Presidential and general elections in November of 2023.
Meanwhile, President Weah at head of the official proclamation of elections result congratulated his counterparts.
Article 50 of the 1986 revised Liberian Constitution states that the Executive Power of the Republic shall be vested in the President who shall be Head of State, Head of Government and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia. The president shall be elected by universal adult suffrage of registered voters in the Republic and shall hold office for a term of six years commencing at noon on the third working Monday in January of the year immediately following the elections . It further states that no person shall serve as President for more than two terms.
Other principal duties of the president of Liberia according to Article 57 of our organic law says the President shall have the power to conduct the foreign affairs of the Republic and in that connection he is empowered to conclude treaties, conventions and similar international agreements with the concurrence of a majority of each House of the Legislature.
The president of Liberia is also responsible to nominate and, with the consent of the Senate, appoint and commission
cabinet ministers, deputy and assistant cabinet ministers;
ambassadors, ministers, consuls; and the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of subordinate courts; superintendents, other county officials and officials of other political sub divisions; members of the military from the rank of lieutenant or its equivalent and above; and marshals, deputy marshals, and sheriffs in keeping with article 54 of the Liberian revised Constitution.
Infurtherance, Most oppositions and citizens who witnessed the instillation program on Facebook and many media outlets across Liberia and the diaspora criticised the newly inducted President of Liberia, describing him as incapacitated to stair the affairs of the state.
What was seem dramatical yesterday dated Jan 22,2024 during the installation program was when the newly inducted president have some breakage while reading his inaugural address before hundred of thousands of Liberia's and the international Community
Article 64 states that Whenever the office of the President shall become vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, or the President shall be declared incapable of carrying out the duties and functions of his office, the Vice President shall succeed to the office of the President to complete the unexpired term. In such a case, this shall not constitute a term.
It further states that the Legislature shall, no later than one year after the coming into force of this Constitution, prescribe the guidelines and determine the procedures under which the President, by reason of illness, shall be declared incapable of carrying out the functions of his office.
Whenever the office of the Vice President becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, inability or other wise, the President shall, without delay, nominate a candidate who, with the concurrence of both Houses of the Legislature, shall be sworn in and hold office as Vice President until the next general election are held. Whenever the Vice President elect dies, resigns, or is incapacitated before being inaugurated, the President elected on the same ticket with him, shall, after being inaugurated into office, nominate without delay a candidate who, with the concurrence of both Houses of the Legislature, shall be sworn in and hold office as Vice President until the next general elections are held.
Whenever the office of the President and of the Vice President shall become vacant by reason of removal, death, resignation, inability or other disability of the President and the Vice President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be sworn in as Acting President until the holding of elections to fill the vacancies so created . Should the Speaker be legally incapable or otherwise unable to assume the office of Acting President, then the same shall devolve upon the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. In any further line of descent, the office shall devolve in order upon the Deputy Speaker and members of the Cabinet in the order of precedence as established by law. The Elections Commission shall within ninety days conduct election.
President Joseph Nyemah Boakai is expected to deliver his state to the nation address in the second working Monday of January in keeping with article 58 which states that the President shall, on the fourth working Monday in January of each year, present the administration's legislature covering income & expenditure.
