Joseph Boakai

==Political career==
Boakai went on to work in both the public and private sectors. He worked as a resident manager (1973–1980) and managing director (1980–1982) for the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC).<ref name="Biography" /> From 1983 to 1985, he served as Minister of Agriculture under President [[Samuel Doe]].<ref name="usaid"/> While Minister of Agriculture, Boakai chaired the 15 nation [[Africa Rice Center|West African Rice Development Association]]. In 1992, he was the managing director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC). He later worked as a consultant to the World Bank in Washington and founded a firm dealing in agricultural equipment and consultancy. He has served as board chairman of the Liberia Wood Management Corporation and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company.<ref name="Biography"/><ref name="usaid"/> He announced his intention to run for the Liberian presidency, which was scheduled for 10 October 2017.<ref name="veconomist" >{{cite news|title=Liberia gears up for an election|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21729989-many-candidates-want-run-country-few-have-plan-liberia-gears-up|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=5 October 2017|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-date=26 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026012940/https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21729989-many-candidates-want-run-country-few-have-plan-liberia-gears-up|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the first round of the 2017 elections where none of the candidates who contested was able to obtain 50% +1 votes to become the country's next president, president [[Ellen Johnson Sirleaf]] stated on several occasions that she was supporting her vice president.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201708110183.html|title=Liberia: Ellen Support to Boakai Remains Unhindered|date=11 August 2017|work=The New Republic Liberia (Monrovia)|access-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228232436/http://allafrica.com/stories/201708110183.html|archive-date=28 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/politics/5514-ellen-supports-boakai-big-time-sen-geraldine-doe-sheriff-clarifies|title=FPA – "Ellen Supports Boakai Big Time" – Sen. Geraldine Doe Sheriff Clarifies|last=gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com|first=Gerald C. Koinyeneh -|website=frontpageafricaonline.com|access-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228232545/https://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/politics/5514-ellen-supports-boakai-big-time-sen-geraldine-doe-sheriff-clarifies|archive-date=28 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the first round, she said she was not supporting the two candidates who made it to the run-off. But she was seen on 21 December 2017 with [[George Weah]] at a groundbreaking ceremony for a road leading to his rival's home, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai. This was harshly received by some members of the ruling [[Unity Party (Liberia)|Unity Party]], who considered the president's action as campaigning for Weah. After the photos flooded social media, President Sirleaf clarified on the same day: "I have told the [[African Union|AU]] that I am neither supporting Senator Weah nor Vice President Boakai, although it's my right to support either of them in the run-off. I never knew the protocol of the program until I reached to the program. When I got there, I saw Senator [[Jewel Taylor|Jewel Howard Taylor]] and Senator Weah; I couldn't tell the both senators to leave because they are both sitting senators. It was Senator Jewel Howard Taylor that gave the shovel to Senator Weah, at which time my head was bent down. So, it was difficult for me to identify the person holding the shovel. But however, I regret that the Vice President wasn't there; this is his road, and he was needed to be here."

When Boakai was asked if he was invited or not, he said that the President never invited him to carry out the groundbreaking ceremony for the road that leads to his home in [[Lofa County]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}}

When the vice president appeared on the Coasta Show, he said one of the reasons the president did not want to support him was his alignment with Chair Wilmot Paye and Senator [[Varney Sherman|Varney G. Sherman]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Boakai was defeated by former football legend, [[George Weah|George M. Weah]], in the run-off of the 2017 presidential and representatives elections,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.necliberia.org/results2017/|title=NEC Liberia – 2017 Election Results Website|website=www.necliberia.org|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230084532/http://www.necliberia.org/results2017/|archive-date=30 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> but paid an appreciation visit to his county, Lofa.<ref name="liberianobserver.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/all-is-not-lost-vp-boakai-assures-lofaians/|title='All is Not Lost,' VP Boakai Assures Lofaians |website=Liberian Observer |language=en-US|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-date=11 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111052714/https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/all-is-not-lost-vp-boakai-assures-lofaians/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During his visit, he spoke of his appreciation for his people and urged them to work with the new government. Boakai said, "The purpose of my visit here is to appreciate my people for showing the high level of love and dedication…ensuring that we were successful in the process because they did what they committed themselves to do by voting in their numbers."{{cn|date=November 2023}} The election has ended, he said, and there is a new government that will continue the work from where the Unity Party-led government will stop. "I ask that we all rally around this new administration to bring the desired developments that we all want. We should all know that [[Liberia]] has won, so let us support each other."{{cn|date=November 2023}}