Joseph Boakai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Boakai
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Boakai in 2023
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| 26th President of Liberia | |
| Assumed office 22 January 2024 |
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| Vice President | Jeremiah Koung |
| Preceded by | George Weah |
| 29th Vice President of Liberia | |
| In office 16 January 2006 – 22 January 2018 |
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| President | Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |
| Preceded by | Wesley Momo Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Jewel Taylor |
| Minister of Agriculture | |
| In office 1983–1990 |
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| President | Samuel Doe |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joseph Nyumah Boakai
30 November 1944 Worsonga, Liberia |
| Political party | Unity Party |
| Spouse |
Katumu Yatta
(m. 1972) |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Executive Mansion |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Politician |
Joseph Nyumah Boakai (born 30 November 1944) is a Liberian politician. He became the 26th president of Liberia in 2024. Before this, he was the 29th vice president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. He served under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. He also worked as the minister of agriculture from 1983 to 1985.
Boakai first ran for president in 2017. He lost that election to George Weah. However, he ran again in the 2023 election and won, defeating Weah.
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About Joseph Boakai
Joseph Boakai was born on 30 November 1944. His birthplace was a small village called Worsonga in Foya District, Lofa County. He belongs to the Kissi ethnic group. He is married to Katumu Boakai, and they have four children. Boakai is a Baptist and a church leader at Effort Baptist Church.
Boakai has helped his community in many ways. He oversaw and paid for building a 7-mile (11.2-kilometer) road. This road was near Warsonga in Lofa County, Liberia. He also worked with youth groups to build a school for 150 students. They also built a clinic for ten nearby villages. He helped raise money to bring electricity to Foya Kama in Lofa County.
Before becoming vice president, Boakai worked as an advisor. He helped with agriculture policy for the Ministry of Agriculture. He also owned a company called LUSU Resource Corporation. He was also a co-owner of AGROMACHINES Liberia.
Boakai has been part of many important groups. He was chairman of Liberia Finance and Trust Corporation. He also chaired the board of Star Radio. He was a founding member of LOIC. He served on the board of the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary. He was also an ambassador for the Liberia YMCA.
As vice president, he led the Liberian Senate. He also supervised several government groups. These included the Liberia Marketing Association and the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment.
Education and Early Career
Boakai went to primary and high school in Sierra Leone and Liberia. He then graduated from the College of West Africa. In 1972, he earned a bachelor's degree. He studied business administration at the University of Liberia.
After college, Boakai worked in both government and private companies. From 1973 to 1982, he worked for the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation. He was a manager there. From 1983 to 1985, he served as the Minister of Agriculture. This was under President Samuel Doe. During this time, he led the West African Rice Development Association.
In 1992, he was the managing director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company. He later worked as an advisor for the World Bank. He also started his own business. It focused on farm equipment and advice.
Path to Presidency
Joseph Boakai decided to run for president in 2017. The election was held on 10 October 2017. In the first round, no candidate won more than 50% of the votes. So, the election went to a second round.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had said she supported her vice president, Boakai. However, before the second round, she said she would not support either candidate. Later, she was seen with George Weah at a road-building event. This caused some disagreement among members of Boakai's Unity Party. They thought she was supporting Weah. President Sirleaf later explained that she did not know the event's plan. She said she did not mean to show support for Weah.
Boakai was defeated by former football star, George M. Weah, in the 2017 election's second round. After the election, Boakai visited his home county, Lofa. He thanked his people for their support. He also asked them to work with the new government. Boakai said that Liberia had won, and everyone should support each other.
Presidency
Boakai ran for president again in 2023. He won the second round of the 2023 Liberian general election. He defeated the current president, George Weah, on 14 November. When he took office on 22 January 2024, he was 79 years old. This made him the oldest president of Liberia.
During his inauguration, Boakai had some difficulty giving his speech. He was escorted away from the podium. Reports suggested he was suffering from heat exhaustion. In July 2024, President Boakai decided to lower his own salary. He reduced it from $13,400 to $8,000 each year.
Honours
Ivory Coast:
Grand Cross of the National Order of the Ivory Coast (7 March 2024)
See also
In Spanish: Joseph Boakai para niños
