After decades in the wings, Liberia’s quiet man Boakai set for presidency

MONROVIA/DAKAR, Nov 18 (Reuters) – When Joseph Boakai won a place at Liberia’s prestigious College of West Africa in the 1950s, he helped pay his fees by working as the school janitor, cleaning floors and toilets at night and studying by day, his spokesman Amara Konneh told Reuters.

Now Boakai, a 78-year-old political veteran, is set to become Liberia’s president after a narrow victory in Tuesday’s run-off vote over former soccer star incumbent George Weah, who conceded defeat late on Friday as the streets of the capital Monrovia erupted in celebration.

Boakai’s win marks the high point in a long career, much of it spent within touching distance of power, including 12 years as vice president under Weah’s predecessor Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. He lost in a run-off vote to Weah in 2017.

Supporters say his hard work, humility and experience are what voters want after six years of Weah rule that initially brought hope, fame and glamour to the presidency but were marred by corruption and administrative chaos.

“Boakai strikes me as a…