Q. Somah Paygai Sr., former Chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC), has congratulated former Vice president, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, on his victory to the presidency.
Liberia’s elections management body – the National Elections Commission (NEC), on Monday, November 20, 2023, officially announced former VP Boakai of the Unity Party (UP) as the winner of the recently conducted November 14, 2023 Presidential Run-off Election.
According to the presidential final tally report consolidated, released by the Commission from across all 5,890 polling places, the presidential ticket of Candidates Boakai Joseph N. and Jeremiah K. Koung of UP obtained the highest votes of 814,481, which constituted 50.64 percent of the total votes, over Weah George Manneh and Jewel Howard-Taylor of the CDC’s 793,914 votes, or 49.36 percent of the total votes.
Accordingly, Paygai, who was a VP candidate on the ticket of the former ruling National Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2005 Presidential and Legislative Elections, in his congratulatory message, vowed to work with the President-elect by offering his professional expertise that would help Liberia achieve its desired development goals.
“Our families can’t even begin to express our gratitude for the successful elections held in our beloved country, Liberia. We know we speak for all of you and for all the Liberian people when we say that whoever is our president, we’ll work with him. This nation faces major challenges ahead, and we must work together,” said Paygai in his message to Boakai.
“And today, our hearts are filled with gratitude that everyone who has made this extraordinary experience of those people who were waiting for a change at various points in Liberia, the change has come,” he said.
The renowned Liberian educator, who once served as Vice president for Administration at the faith-based African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), urged the Liberian leader-elect to place premium on youth development and create employment opportunities by encouraging direct foreign investment.
“This election victory is not just for UP partisans! It’s about every Liberian and those residing within our borders. We’re going to continue to work for these goals with you and we’re proud to say that we will continue to work for a democratic society. We’ll be working with the new administration, and above all, the people of Liberia,” he vowed.
“And let us simply conclude by saying this to all of you and to people like you all across the country, and especially to those of you who are young people, and there are many young people here. There is nothing you can do in this world more fulfilling and more satisfying than giving of yourself to others and making a contribution to your community, county, nation, and your fellow citizens.
Thanks to our out-going leader, President George M. Weah, for his service to Liberia,” added Paygai.
