Liberia's new president, Joseph Boakai, has recovered from an episode of heat-induced faintness that caused him to cut short his inauguration speech on Monday before being led off the podium, his party's spokesman said.
The 79-year-old, who defeated George Weah in a runoff election in November, was sworn in during an outdoor ceremony in sweltering heat in the West African nation's capital, Monrovia.
Boakai then paused during his speech and aides rushed to fan him. He resumed a few minutes later but halted again and aides helped him walk away from the podium, curtailing the ceremony.
"It is the heat. The heat was high. They should have had some fan or something around there," Mohammed Ali, the spokesman for Boakai's ruling Unity Party said after the incident.
"At his age, the exhaustion happened. But it is okay now," he said at the event.
Some of Boakai's opponents had raised concerns about his age and energy during election campaigning but his team dismissed the criticism.
Although the inauguration ceremony ended abruptly, Boakai had already taken the oath of office when he was helped away. Officials still proceeded to a planned lunch but Boakai's whereabouts were not immediately clear.
Latest Stories
-
I want to focus more on my education – Chidimma Adetshina quits pageantry
3 hours -
Priest replaced after Sabrina Carpenter shoots music video in his church
3 hours -
Duct-taped banana artwork sells for $6.2m in NYC
3 hours -
Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes
4 hours -
Actors Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are engaged
4 hours -
Expired rice saga: A ‘best before date’ can be extended – Food and Agriculture Engineer
4 hours -
Why I rejected Range Rover gift from a man – Tiwa Savage
4 hours -
KNUST Engineering College honours Telecel Ghana CEO at Alumni Excellence Awards
4 hours -
Postecoglou backs Bentancur appeal after ‘mistake’
5 hours -
#Manifesto debate: NDC to enact and pass National Climate Law – Prof Klutse
5 hours -
‘Everything a manager could wish for’ – Guardiola signs new deal
5 hours -
TEWU suspends strike after NLC directive, urges swift resolution of grievances
5 hours -
Netflix debuts Grain Media’s explosive film
5 hours -
‘Expired’ rice scandal: FDA is complicit; top officials must be fired – Ablakwa
6 hours -
#TheManifestoDebate: We’ll provide potable water, expand water distribution network – NDC
6 hours