Miatta Fahnbulleh blasts Ex President Weah, Hold Ellen Responsible For His Rise To Power
Says Former President Was “A Disaster for the Country”
Monrovia – Legendary Liberian singer, social activist, and political commentator Miatta Fahnbulleh has launched a blistering critique of former President George Manneh Weah, while also blaming former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for what she described as paving the way for his ascension to Liberia’s highest office.
Speaking during a recent interview, Fahnbulleh argued that Sirleaf’s “lasting legacy” would be remembered for endorsing and elevating Weah to the presidency, despite what she believes were his limitations in governance.
“Her lasting legacy will be that she unleashed George Weah on us,” Fahnbulleh declared. “Mrs. Sirleaf forced him on us; literally held up his hand as the successor.”
Fahnbulleh questioned the decision to elevate a globally celebrated football icon into national political leadership, arguing that sporting excellence does not necessarily translate into the skills required to govern a country.
While acknowledging Weah’s extraordinary achievements on the football field, she maintained that he lacked the experience and interest needed to effectively manage the affairs of state.
“He’s a fantastic football player,” she said. “But the background that I come from, we didn’t see football players as national political leaders. They should stick to their professions.”
Fahnbulleh went further, describing the former President’s administration as “a disaster for the country,” claiming Liberians themselves would attest to what she characterized as a failed presidency.
According to her, Weah showed little enthusiasm for the responsibilities of governing, alleging that he was more interested in the prestige of holding office than in the demands of public administration.
“He had absolutely no interest in governance,” Fahnbulleh asserted. “He was just happy to be President… This man was a football player. How do you expect him to come and read a 530-page budget?”
Drawing a regional comparison, Fahnbulleh referenced former Ghanaian football legend Abedi Pelé and questioned whether Ghanaians would consider entrusting their country’s leadership to a celebrated athlete solely because of sporting success.
Her remarks are expected to reignite political debate over the legacy of the Weah administration and the role played by Sirleaf in Liberia’s 2017 democratic transition.
Neither former President George Weah nor former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had publicly responded to Fahnbulleh’s comments as of press time.
This is a developing story.
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