Critics slam Liberia president’s nine-day trip to watch World Cup

Liberian President George Weah has attracted the ire of citizens after it emerged that he plans to spend nine-days at the World Cup in Qatar.

The former Ballon d’Or winner, last week, informed the senate of his nine-day World Cup plan, after which he flew out for a number of foreign visits.

Critique has come in the form of call-ins into radio and TV shows as well as on social media platforms.

Critics say it would be inconsiderate of the president to go to Qatar at a time when many people were dealing with a crippling food crisis, and other pressing issues at home.

The BBC Africa LIVE page reports that the president’s son Timothy, who is American, will be in the US squad at the World Cup tournament, which kicks off on 20 November.

The 56-year-old former AC Milan and Chelsea forward was elected president of Liberia in 2017. He was a serving senator at the time of his second-round victory over Joeph Boakai.

Mr Weah’s staff – who haven’t responded to questions about the cost of the trip – have hit back at his critics, saying the president’s foreign visits would “yield huge dividends” for the country.