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Ebola Outbreak in Liberia and Sierra Leone: Role of Nonmedical Emergency Management Agencies

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Ebola Outbreak in Liberia and Sierra Leone: Role of Nonmedical Emergency Management Agencies Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2020 Ebola Outbreak in Liberia and Sierra Leone: Role of Nonmedical Emergency Management Agencies Eugene Owusu Afrifa Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Eugene Owusu Afrifa has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Ernesto Escobedo, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. JoAnn McAllister, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. George Kieh, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2020 Abstract Ebola Outbreak in Liberia and Sierra Leone: Role of Nonmedical Emergency Management Agencies by Eugene Owusu Afrifa MPhil, Walden University, 2020 MA, University of Ghana, 2011 BA, University of Ghana, 2007 Final Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University May 2020 Abstract The 2014 Ebola crisis killed 11,315 people across 6 countries, making it the deadliest crisis globally since the virus was discovered in 1976. However, the roles played by nonmedical emergency management agencies (EMAs) in Liberia and Sierra Leone during that crisis remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to bridge the gap in knowledge by documenting the roles which were played or should have been played by EMAs in Liberia and Sierra Leone in responding to the 2014 Ebola crisis involving policymaking in emergency management (EM). The research questions focused on the roles that were played or should have been played by EMAs in Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as similar agencies in West Africa in responding to the Ebola crisis. This study was a generic qualitative inquiry grounded in the functionalist theory. Purposeful sampled interviews with 12 EM experts from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ghana were used. An inductive thematic analytical approach was used in the data analysis. The results showed that EMAs played crucial roles in coordination, communication, and control of the movement of people. The study also revealed that EMAs should have planned for unfamiliar hazards before the Ebola crisis. Further, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should have ensured the synergy of EM resources of its member states when responding to epidemics that transcend international boundaries. Recommendations of this study include, planning for unfamiliar hazards, and the need for ECOWAS to develop a memorandum of understanding among EMAs of member states. This research provides a blueprint on how EMAs can appropriately respond to unknown epidemics in future to save lives in West Africa. Ebola Outbreak in Liberia and Sierra Leone: Role of Nonmedical Emergency Management Agencies by Eugene Owusu Afrifa MPhil, Walden University, 2020 MA, University of Ghana, 2011 BA, University of Ghana, 2007 Final Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University May 2020 Dedication I dedicate my dissertation first and foremost to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for sustaining me throughout this difficult but exciting journey. This dissertation is also dedicated to my late father Ex-Warrant Officer Daniel Benjamin Owusu and my mother Mary Tufour who valued the importance of education and spent all their lives and resources to give my siblings and I the best they could. I also dedicate this to my loving wife Mrs. Victoria Naa Dedei Owusu-Afrifa and children Dalvin Benjamín, and Marilyn Ewura Abena Owusu-Afrifa, who had to endure my long periods of absence from home in pursuit of this PhD. For both of you, my young children, I did this for you to know that you should never give up in life and you should always strive for success irrespective of your circumstance. To my brother, Dr. Kenneth Kwarteng, and my friend Lieutenant Colonel Farouck M-Basher (Rtd); you two were my inspiration and source of encouragement. Finally to the entire D.B. Owusu and BT Aryeetey families, I truly appreciate all of you for your prayers and support. Meda mo nyinaa ase. Acknowledgments I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to my Committee Chair Dr Ernesto Escobedo and committee member Dr JoAnn McAlister for your dedication and support throughout this difficult journey. I would also want to thank my university research reviewer Dr George Kieh for his guidance. My sincere gratitude also goes to the entire Walden team for their support throughout this dissertation. I will like to also mention Dr. Akorfa Ahiafor who as a student of Walden, offered to help as a research assistant during my data collection, and upon the completion of her doctoral program provided immense support in perusing portions of this dissertation. I would also like to acknowledge Lieutenant Colonel Dela Klutse and the entire Kofi Anan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC) for the immense support they provided during my data collection. I am indeed indebted to you all for your help. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ............................................................................ 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 Background of the Study ...................................................................................... 1 Background History of Liberia and Sierra Leone ................................................. 4 Brief History of Liberia ................................................................................. 4 History of Sierra Leone ................................................................................. 6 Problem Statement ................................................................................................ 9 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................... 10 Research Questions ............................................................................................. 11 Theoretical Framework ....................................................................................... 12 Nature of the Study ............................................................................................. 12 Operational Definitions....................................................................................... 13 Assumption ......................................................................................................... 14 Scope and Delimitations ..................................................................................... 15 Limitations .......................................................................................................... 15 Significance of the Study .................................................................................... 16 Summary ............................................................................................................. 16 Chapter 2: Literature Review .................................................................................... 18 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 18 i Strategy for Search of Literature ........................................................................ 18 Theoretical Framework ....................................................................................... 19 History of the Ebola Epidemic............................................................................ 21 Sociopolitical Factors Leading to Rapid Spread of the Virus ............................ 25 Systemic Failure Contributing to the Spread of Ebola ....................................... 29 Effect of Ebola on Socioeconomic Development of Liberia and Sierra Leone.. 32 International Panic and Stigmatization of Africans ............................................ 35 Weaponization and Bioterrorism of Ebola Virus ............................................... 38 National Response .............................................................................................. 41 The Response of the International Community .................................................. 45 Involvement of Military from Britain and United States .................................... 48 United States Troops in Liberia .......................................................................... 48 British Troops in Sierra Leone............................................................................ 50 Summary ............................................................................................................. 52 Chapter 3: Research Method .....................................................................................
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