By Kemo Cham
Outgoing Liberian President George Weah on Tuesday issued a Presidential decree ordering the formation of a Joint Presidential Transitional Team (JPTT) to oversee the “smooth transfer of power,” following the declaration of Joseph Boakai as winner of last week’s presidential run-off.
Mr Boakai was declared winner on Monday after the National Electoral Commission released the last set of results from Tuesday’s voting.
President Weah was quoted in a statement issued by the Executive Mansion saying that he ordered the setting up of the Transition Team by virtue of the power and authority vested in him by the country’s constitution, which requires the incumbent administration to “develop a system of appropriate protocols and mechanisms” for the smooth transfer of power after every election.
According to the statement, the committee will be co-chaired by President Weah and President-elect Boakai. It adds that other members already appointed include key cabinet ministers, such as Foreign Affairs, Finance, Justice, Defense and Presidential Affairs.
Mr Boakai was invited to designate 20 persons to the committee, according to the decree. It also says that both Mr Weah and the President-elect may choose to designate people to represent them as co-chairs of the committee in their absence.
“Decisions of the JPTT shall be made by consensus and any disagreements shall be resolved by the Incumbent President and the President-Elect, acting jointly,” the statement said, citing the presidential decree.
The Committee was expected to commence work no later than 48 hours after the declaration of the results by the electoral commission, as per the decree, after which the outgoing president is expected to call the first meeting of its members.
According to Liberian law, the new president will take office in January.
