The co-author of a biography of Liberian President George Weah has been stopped from leaving the country amid controversy over sections of the book.

Women groups are angry over a chapter where the president is quoted as having made some indecent and denigrating revelations about the sexual habits of his wife.

The president is said to detail in the book various reasons why he chose his wife over other women for marriage, including her performance in bed.

The first lady, Clar Marie Weah, has not commented about the controversy.

The latest incident comes after excepts of this aspect in the book published over a decade ago were shared online by US-based Liberian talk show host Henry Costa.

Isaac Vah Tukpah was forced to quit his job – as an opposition figure’s aide – and apologised for including the interview about the first lady in the biography.

The government has denied claims by the opposition that the author was arrested over the publication.

In a statement, the information ministry said he was stopped from leaving the country on Tuesday night for his safety and because the border was already closed.

President Weah in the statement says Mr Tukpah “is not being sought after” and that he is “free to live or travel out of Liberia”. The second author of the book is said to be out of Liberia.

Women groups angered by the publication are said to be planning demonstrations to condemn the book.

But many people want the Liberian president to come out clear and admit whether or not the authors lied about what he told them in the biography.