Photo: allAfrica.com

George Weah.

FOOTBALL LEGEND GEORGE Manneh Weah finally embraced his role as Peace Ambassador Wednesday, displaying his FIFA Footballer of the Year Award to a roomful of journalists as he declared his intentions to work with all sides in the Liberian conflict in leading the charge to reconcile Liberia.

WEAH IS undoubtedly the most popular Liberian on the face of the planet after spending 14 years of his professional football career playing for clubs in France, Italy and England and winning trophies in each of these three countries. His best year was 1995 when he was named FIFA World Footballer of the Year, European Footballer of the Year and African Footballer of the Year.

WEAH HAS FOLLOWED up his retirement from football with a venture into politics. He ran unsuccessfully for president in the 2005 Presidential elections, losing to Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in the second round of voting. In the 2011 general elections, he ran as a vice president under Winston Tubman.

IRONICALLY, WEAH'S CONGRESS for Democratic Change has been in the middle of a lot of major post-election upheavals in Liberia, posing serious challenges to election results and raising issues regarding electoral fraud.

PERHAPS THE most memorable was the aftermath of the 2005 elections. Weah had obtained a plurality of votes in the first round of voting on 11 October, garnering 28.3% of the vote, qualifying him to compete in a run-off election against Sirleaf, the second placed candidate. However, he lost the run-off to Sirleaf on 8 November, garnering only 40.6% to 59.4% for Sirleaf. Weah alleged that the election had been rigged through voter intimidation and ballot tampering, and many of his supporters protested the results in the streets of Monrovia. However, after assurances that the vote was fair several prominent African leaders called on Weah's supporters to accept the result with grace and dignity, and Sirleaf became President. The African Union had characterized the elections as "peaceful, transparent, and fair".

IN 2011, violence followed a protest by Weah's Congress for Democratic Change who threatened to boycott the second round. At least one person was killed and scores injured and arrested.

IN THE AFTERMATH of the elections, Weah accepted Sirleaf's offer to serve as a Peace Ambassador, following the resignation of Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee.

HIS APPOINTMENT has been greeted with mixed reviews with some suggesting that Weah's acceptance has diminished his electability now that he has joined forces with the establishment.

OTHERS HOWEVER, see Weah's ascendancy as a perfect opportunity for him to use his popularity as a major international footballer to help restore reconciliation and peace to his homeland.

NEVERTHELESS, we remain cautiously optimistic that beyond the talks, the rhetoric and promises, a sense of sincerity will surface and help restore Liberians fate in the system, that through Weah, something good can come out of Liberia. But it must begin and end with our willingness to weed out corruption, make life better for all and not just a few and

WE AGREE with Information Minister Lewis Brown that the road to avoiding a relapse into conflict - the path to sustaining our peace - has been predictably difficult and that Liberia has come a long way travelling along that road. But we must however surge ahead with a sense of dedication to what we say, what we preach and what we promise.

IT IS A GOOD THING that Weah has embraced his role. Next door in The Ivory Coast, Didier Drogba, the former Chelsea footballer agreed to join an 11-member Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up to heal the wounds left by more than four months of fighting in Ivory Coast. Weah can take solace in the fact that his name is brand and he can use that to his advantage and help unite Liberia for the better. Liberians too must be willing to put aside their differences and give Mr. Weah a chance to succeed in spite of surmountable odds and the fears of impossibility.