Joseph Boakai

{{Short description|President of Liberia since 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use Liberian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Joseph Boakai
| image               = Joseph Boakai (cropped).png
| caption             = Boakai in 2014
| order               = 26th
| office              = President of Liberia
| vicepresident       = [[Jeremiah Koung]]
| term_start          = 22 January 2024
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[George Weah]]
| successor           = 
| office1             = 29th [[Vice President of Liberia]]
| president1          = [[Ellen Johnson Sirleaf]]
| term_start1         = 16 January 2006
| term_end1           = 22 January 2018
| predecessor1        = [[Wesley Momo Johnson]]
| successor1          = [[Jewel Taylor]]
| office2             = [[Ministry of Agriculture (Liberia)|Minister of Agriculture]]
| president2          = [[Samuel Doe]]
| term_start2         = 1983
| term_end2           = 1985
| predecessor2        = 
| successor2          = 
| birth_name          = Joseph Nyumah Boakai
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1944|11|30|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Foya District|Worsonga]], Liberia
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Unity Party (Liberia)|Unity Party]]
| otherparty          = 
| spouse              = {{marriage|Katumu Yatta|1972}}
| children            = 4
| residence           = [[Executive Mansion, Monrovia|Executive Mansion]]
| education           = 
| occupation          = Politician
| alma_mater          = {{plainlist|
* [[University of Liberia]]
* [[Kansas State University]]
}}
| profession          = 
| website             = 
| footnotes           = 
}}
'''Joseph Nyumah Boakai''' (born 30 November 1944) is a Liberian politician who is the 26th and current [[president of Liberia]].<ref name="president">{{cite web |last1=Mehnpaine |first1=Tina S. |title=Liberia Election: Joseph Boakai Emerges as President-Elect |url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-election-joseph-boakai-emerges-president-elect |website=www.liberianobserver.com |language=en |access-date=17 November 2023 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117223018/https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-election-joseph-boakai-emerges-president-elect |url-status=live }}</ref> He previously served as the 29th [[vice president of Liberia]] from 2006 to 2018, under President [[Ellen Johnson Sirleaf]] and as the minister of agriculture from 1983 to 1985. Boakai ran for president in [[2017 Liberian general election|2017]], losing the election to [[George Weah]]. He went on to defeat Weah in the [[2023 Liberian general election|2023 election]].

==Personal life==
Joseph Boakai was born in the remote village of [[Worsonga]] in [[Foya District]], [[Lofa County]],<ref name="Designs">{{Cite web|url=http://www.emansion.gov.lr/2content.php?sub=25&related=20&third=25&pg=sp|title=The Executive Mansion|last=Designs|first=BlueSeas Web|website=emansion.gov.lr|access-date=29 December 2017|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421000312/http://www.emansion.gov.lr/2content.php?sub=25&related=20&third=25&pg=sp|url-status=dead}}</ref> on 30 November 1944, and is from the [[Kissi people|Kissi]] ethnic group.<ref name="Apart">{{cite web |title=Things Fall Apart – Two Boakai's Loyalists in Lofa Senatorial Faceoff |url=https://independentprobe.com/2023/02/21/things-fall-apart-two-boakais-loyalists-in-lofa-senatorial-faceoff/ |website=Independent Probe Newspaper |date=21 February 2023 |access-date=20 November 2023 |archive-date=20 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120112359/https://independentprobe.com/2023/02/21/things-fall-apart-two-boakais-loyalists-in-lofa-senatorial-faceoff/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He is married to [[Katumu Boakai]] and they have four children.<ref name="Biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.emansion.gov.lr/2content.php?sub=25&related=20&third=25&pg=sp|title=Biography of Vice President Joseph N. Boakai|publisher=eMansion.gov|access-date=8 October 2017|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421000312/http://www.emansion.gov.lr/2content.php?sub=25&related=20&third=25&pg=sp|url-status=dead}}</ref> Boakai is a [[Baptist]] and a [[deacon]] of the Effort Baptist Church.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n5zaeeopwIQC&q=Boakai+is+a+religious+Baptist+and+a+Deacon+of+the+Effort+Baptist+Church.&pg=PA27|title=Liberia Mineral & Mining Sector Investment and Business Guide|date=7 February 2007|publisher=Int'l Business Publications|isbn=9781433029783|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Active in philanthropic efforts, Boakai supervised and personally financed a 7-mile (11.2-kilometer) rural village road construction near Warsonga in Lofa county, [[Liberia]]. He also worked with the Federation of Liberian Youth<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flyliberia.wordpress.com/|title=Federation of Liberian Youth|website=Federation of Liberian Youth|access-date=29 December 2017|archive-date=29 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232401/https://flyliberia.wordpress.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> (FLY) and the Danish Youth to construct a school for 150 students and clinic for a community of 10 villages. He was active in organizing and fundraising for the rural electrification of Foya Kama in Lofa County, Northern Liberia.<ref name="Designs"/>

Before serving as vice president, Boakai consulted with several institutions, including serving as Chief Technical Advisor on Agriculture Policy, Ministry of Agriculture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moa.gov.lr/|title=The Ministry of Agriculture|last=Designs|first=BlueSeas Web|website=moa.gov.lr|access-date=29 December 2017|archive-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226042252/http://moa.gov.lr/|url-status=live}}</ref> He reviewed and evaluated the Liberian 1986 proposed Green Revolution and FAO World Bank<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/home/en/|title=Home|website=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|access-date=29 December 2017|archive-date=6 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106085436/http://www.fao.org/home/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> 1986 Agricultural sector Review Document and evaluated AMSCO, Amsterdam Funded training program for projects in Uganda in 1994 and Tanzania in 1996.

He is the owner of LUSU Resource Corporation and co-owner of AGROMACHINES Liberia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://liberia.buildingmarkets.org/|title=Building Markets in Liberia: Find Local Businesses {{!}} Sustainable Marketplace – Liberia :: Buy Local, Build Liberia|website=liberia.buildingmarkets.org|access-date=29 December 2017|archive-date=29 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232355/http://liberia.buildingmarkets.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Boakai has served on many boards, including as chairman of Liberia Finance and Trust Corporation, chairman of the board of [[Star Radio]], founding member of LOIC, member of the board of the [[Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary]], founding member of Bethesda Christian Mission, founding organizer-[[African Methodist Episcopal University]], founding organizer of the [[C.W.A. Methodist University]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ame.edu.lr/|title=African Methodist Episcopal University|website=ame.edu.lr|access-date=29 December 2017|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322030248/http://ame.edu.lr/|url-status=live}}</ref> ambassador of the Liberia YMCA, president of LUSU Resource Corporation, and ex-president of the Monrovia Rotary Club.

As vice president, he was the president of the Liberian Senate and presided over plenary sessions of that body for two days each week. He also performed supervisory functions over several institutions and agencies, including the Liberia National Lotteries (LOTTO), the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE), and the National Commission on Disarmament Demobilization Resettlement and Reintegration (NCDDRR).

==Education==
Boakai attended primary and high school in [[Sierra Leone]] and Liberia before graduating from the [[College of West Africa]]. He later graduated from the [[University of Liberia]] in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.<ref name="usaid">{{cite web|url=http://www.usaid.gov/press/frontlines/fl_apr06/development.htm|title=Liberia Vice President Boakai|date=April 2006|work=Frontlines – Inside Development|publisher=[[United States Agency for International Development]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061011175832/http://www.usaid.gov/press/frontlines/fl_apr06/development.htm|archive-date=11 October 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=13 October 2006}}</ref>

==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}}

==Presidency==
Boakai defeated incumbent George Weah in the second round of the [[2023 Liberian general election|2023 presidential election]], which was held on 14 November.<ref name="president" /> At his inauguration as president on 22 January 2024, Boakai was seen having difficulty in delivering his inaugural address, which he was unable to finish, and was escorted away from the podium, with reports suggesting that he was suffering from heat exhaustion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68054411 |title=Joseph Boakai: Liberia's new president fails to end inauguration speech |website=BBC|date=22 January 2024 |language=en-US|access-date=23 January 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{commons category}}

{{Presidents of Liberia}}
{{Heads of state of republics}}
{{Vice presidents of Liberia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boakai, Joseph}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:Agriculture ministers]]
[[Category:Candidates for President of Liberia]]
[[Category:Kansas State University alumni]]
[[Category:Liberian Baptists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Lofa County]]
[[Category:University of Liberia alumni]]
[[Category:Unity Party (Liberia) politicians]]
[[Category:Presidents of Liberia]]
[[Category:Vice presidents of Liberia]]
[[Category:College of West Africa alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Liberian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Liberian politicians]]