Joseph Boakai's presidential inauguration was cur short. The president was suffering from heat stroke, which required his speech to be cut short. Opposition parties have raised the concern about President Boakai's age. At 79 years old, he is one of Liberia's oldest presidents. Older leaders are common on the African continent. The issue relates to energy and fitness for office. Health becomes a concern for a head of state and matters of succession must be taken into account. Adding an age limit for political office would be discriminatory. An age requirement to obtain office is as well. That does assumes that younger people are not ready to be leaders. At some point, the youth must be allowed to continue the work of governance. Yet, longtime establishment politicians refuse to retire. The inability to at least accept some change or reform makes most establishment political figures seem out of touch. Joseph Boakai has served as vice president, so he understands the Liberian political system. The question remains is whether or not he will do something different with his administration. A run off election was required for him to beat George Weah. This means that the country is still divided along particular political lines. The world is having a concern with aging leadership, which clings to power. Age might bring political experience, but it become apparent that older leaders are not open to new ideas. President Joseph Boakai has not proposed anything innovative. When the public votes for an older head of state health, worldview, and openness to new ideas must be considered.
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