Misleading; Gray's Claims About President Boakai's Age and Ceremony Behavior

Claim: “Liberia is the first country in the world to elect an old President. “ President Boakai was leaving the program when called to speak.”

Source: Acarous M.Gray, an executive member of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change.

Verdict: Misleading Gray’s claim about President Boakai’s age and walking out the podium, leaving the program.

Full-text: On February 7, Gray made a Facebook post alleging that Liberia had elected the world’s first elderly president and that President Joseph N. Boakai attempted to leave a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Liberia National Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities and Group of 77 Residence in Brewerville.

This post received an engagement with 539 reactions, 547 comments, 144 shares, and 39.4K views as of the time of the check.

The Liberia National Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities and Group of 77 Residence in Brewerville is an initiative of Stephanie Dahn-Koung, wife of Jeremiah Koung, vice president of the Republic of Liberia. The facilities will contain a residential lodge, a school for livelihood support, and a clinic for members of the disabled community.

Verification: When contacted, Gray confirmed his post that the President was leaving the program when his security redirected him. "You didn't see him being redirected by security and heading away from the podium?"

The Stage Media-Liberia research shows that President Paul Biya of Cameroon, born February 13, 1933, in Mvomeka’a, French Cameroon, currently serves as president at age 91, contradicting Gray’s post of President Boakai being the oldest to get elected.

Biya has been President of Cameroon since November 6, 1982, making him one of Africa's longest-serving leaders. Before becoming president, he served as Prime Minister from 1975 to 1982 under President Ahmadou Ahidjo.

On the other hand, Anthony V. Kesselly, deputy minister for public affairs at the Ministry of State, said in response to Gray's post that normally there are two podiums—a special presidential podium and a standard one—positioned far apart.

He furthered that the President was walking in the direction of the podium without the seal of Liberia that was being used, not observing that his special podium had been positioned on the opposite side.

Authenticating the video mentioned by Gray, TSM contacted Prince Saah, assigned executive mansion reporter—The News Newspaper.

Saah said there were two podiums at the event, which is the normal procedure when the President is present and to make a statement.

When the President was called to make a statement, he walked towards the standard podium previously used by Stephenie Dahn-Koung, the Second Lady, the Republic of Liberia, and others before security redirected him to the presidential podium with the official seal.

Conclusion: Based on the information gathered, Gray's claims are misleading. Biya is the elderly president worldwide, while the second claim mischaracterizes a simple podium confusion as an attempt to leave the event.