Voting commences in Liberia’s presidential run-off

Voting has begun in polling centres across Liberia as the West African country chooses its next president.

The run-off is between former international football star, George Weah and incumbent Vice-President Joseph Boakai.

Weah won the first round of elections on October 10 with 38 percent of the total votes cast and was followed by Boakai who came second with 29 percent.

But, both men fell short of the 50 percent plus one absolute majority vote required for a winner to emerge in the first round, hence the run-off.

The winner will succeed outgoing President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who is stepping down in January after completing her constitutional 12-year tenure of two terms of six years each.

A NAN correspondent in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, said polls opened at exactly 8am.

However, voter turnout was low at the centres compared to the October 10 election.

Oppong Wennah, a polling official, told NAN that the process had been smooth and fast, but said the turnout was low.

A voter, Dillion Boakai, said he spent less than 20 minutes on queue to cast his vote unlike October 10 when he managed to vote after six hours.

Others who spoke said they had no problem with the run-off holding on boxing day, adding that it was necessary price for a peaceful transition of power.

This is first transition election since 1973 in a country that is recovering from over a decade of devastating civil war.