George Weah sworn in as President of Liberia

Former football star George Weah has been sworn in as President of Liberia on Monday, in the country's first democratic transfer of power for more than 70 years.

Weah, 51 a decorated football star, took over from Africa's first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who steps down after completing two six-year terms in office.

Weah in his inaugural speech pledged to fight corruption and revive the economy of the small West African nation that was hit by the worst-ever Ebola crisis only a decade after ending a protracted civil war.

I have spent my life in stadiums but I've never felt like this, Weah said.

I promise to be the agent of positive change, he said.

We owe our citizens moral clarity on fundamental issues including civil liberties and accountability of national resources. My popular mandate is a mandate to end corruption.

Weah won the first round of election in October with 38.4% of the vote, while incumbent Vice-President, Joseph Boakai received 28.8%, but because neither candidate garnered more than 50% of the vote, a runoff was held on December 26 in which Weah, won more than 60% of the votes to beat Boakai.

The short ceremony was witnessed by African heads of state and dignitaries from Senegal, Mali, Ghana and Nigeria. 

Former Chelsea soccer star Didier Drogba also attended the ceremony.

The last time the west African nation of 4.6 million people had a democratic transfer of power was in 1944.