Liberians head to polls this week [The Morning Call]

Millions of Liberians will vote on Tuesday to elect a new president and legislators in the country’s third election since the end of the civil war in 2003.

Africa’s first female president President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, is stepping down after serving the constitutionally mandated limit, two six-year terms in office.

For a candidate to be declared winner they must win at least 50 percent of the votes cast, plus one.

It will be the first time since 1944 that a democratically elected leader will hand over power to another elected leader in the country.

20 presidential candidates compete to get the support of the 2.2 million registered voters.

They include Liberia and indeed Africa’s football icon George Opong Weah, and the country’s vice-president, Joseph Boakai.