By Johnson Watson,MONROVIA, Liberia
When George Manneh Weah was sworn in on January 22, 2018, the expectation was massive. Liberia’s first democratically elected former athlete, Ballon d’Or winner, and senator was taking over from 12 years of Unity Party rule. Critics said he was unprepared. Supporters said he understood the street.
Six years later, the record is mixed — like any presidency. But if you look at what his administration set out to do under the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development, and what actually got built, there is a clear case to be made in support of George Weah’s achievements.
Infrastructure: Breaking The "Monrovia-Only" Cycle
For decades, Liberians joked that development stopped at Duport Road. Under Weah, that changed. Infrastructure became the most visible signature.
Roads: The government prioritized "connecting Liberia." The 14.2km ELWA to RIA highway was paved and dedicated, cutting travel time from Monrovia to the airport and reducing accidents. In Nimba, the long-stalled Sanniquellie to Loguatuo road saw serious work. In Grand Bassa, Buchanan was reconnected by pavement. Coastal highway segments in Maryland and Grand Kru moved from paper to contractors on ground.
For market women, taxi drivers, and farmers, this mattered. Bad roads mean expensive rice and spoiled cassava. Paved roads mean access to clinics, schools, and markets. Supporters argue no government since Tubman has put this much equipment and budget on roads at once.
Electricity: The Mt. Coffee Hydro Plant, damaged during the war, was kept operational and stabilized. The CLSG transmission line connected Liberia to the West African Power Pool, bringing cheaper power from Ivory Coast and Guinea. LEC expanded into new communities in Montserrado and beyond. "Lights" became less of a luxury in parts of Monrovia.
Housing: The administration broke ground on the 6,000-unit housing project, aimed at civil servants and low-income families. While not completed, it was the first serious government housing push in 40 years.
The argument from supporters: "You can criticize the pace, but you cannot say nothing was built. Go drive ELWA-RIA at night and tell me that’s not progress."
Human Capital: Investing Directly In The Poor
Weah campaigned on "pro-poor." His two biggest education policies targeted cost.
Tuition-Free Policy: In 2018, the government announced tuition-free education at all public universities and community colleges. University of Liberia, BWI, Nimba, Bomi, Lofa, and others saw enrollment jump. For the first time, a child from West Point or Clara Town could go to UL without finding $500 per semester.
WASSCE Fees Paid: Government began paying West African Senior School Certificate Exam fees for 12th graders nationwide. Before this, many students dropped out in 12th grade because families couldn’t pay $25-$35 per student.
In health, the Pro-Poor Agenda put primary healthcare and free maternal care as priorities. While challenges with drugs and staffing remained, the policy direction was to remove fees at the point of care for the most vulnerable.
Supporters frame this as moral: "Previous governments built for elites. Weah built for the people who voted him — students, marketeers, and job seekers."
Peace, Governance, and Liberia’s Image Abroad
Liberia is 21 years post-war. Keeping that peace is an achievement in itself.
Democratic Space: During Weah’s 6 years, there were protests, media criticism, and a 2023 election that he lost. Yet there were no political prisoners, no shutdown of radio stations, and no attempt to extend term limits. Power transferred peacefully to Joseph Boakai in January 2024. In a region with 7 coups since 2020, that stability matters.
International Leverage: Weah’s global football name gave Liberia access. He could pick up the phone and speak to FIFA, UEFA, and heads of state. That profile was used to push for youth programs, sports development, and to rebrand Liberia as "open for investment" instead of "post-war." The Antoinette Tubman Stadium renovation and other sports facilities were part of that.
Accountability Institutions: GAC audits continued. LACC was funded and filed cases. The government also set up the Office of War and Economic Crimes Court to begin the process. Supporters say: "He didn’t block the institutions. He let them work, even when they investigated his own officials."
Managing Crisis: COVID, Debt, and the Economy
Weah inherited an economy with low revenue, high debt, and donor fatigue. Then came COVID-19 in 2020.
Despite global inflation and supply chain shocks, the government avoided salary arrears for civil servants — a problem that plagued past administrations. Stimulus and social cash transfers were rolled out during COVID.
On debt, the administration engaged partners to restructure and avoid default. Mining and agriculture concessions were reviewed to increase government share. The "Liberia is open for business" drive brought renewed interest in iron ore, forestry, and agribusiness.
Economists can debate GDP numbers. But supporters point to one thing: basic government kept running during the hardest global period in 30 years.
The Core Case Supporters Make
Critics focus on what wasn’t done. Supporters focus on what was started.
Visibility: You can see roads, lights, and students in class. That’s tangible.Focus: For the first time, policy language centered the poor. Tuition-free and WASSCE were direct cash savings to families.
Peace: No war. No constitutional crisis. An election lost and conceded.
"Judge George Weah not by perfection, but by direction," a CDC official said in 2023. "He took us from just talking about development to actually pouring concrete."
A Foundation, Not a Finish Line
No president solves 170 years of problems in 6 years. Weah’s administration left unfinished projects, debt, and areas needing reform. But it also left a foundation: roads under construction, thousands of students in public college without tuition, and a democratic transfer that proved Liberia’s democracy is maturing.
For millions of Liberians who felt ignored before 2018, those are not small things. They are the reason many still say: "He tried for us."
Whether history calls it enough will depend on what comes next. But the case for Weah’s achievements rests on this: he moved Liberia from promise to pavement, from speech to scholarship, and kept the peace while doing it
