University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN SECURITY IN THE POST-CONFLICT DEVELOPMENT OF LIBERIA: 2003 – 2011 PHILIP KORTEI ATTUQUAYEFIO (10120524) THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF PhD POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE JULY 2012 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I hereby declare that except for references to other publications which have been duly acknowledged herein, this work is the result of an original research conducted by me under the supervision of the undersigned. Philip Kortei Attuquayefio (Candidate) Signed:…………………….. Date:……………………….. Prof. Kwame Boafo-Arthur Prof. Abeeku Essuman-Johnson (Supervisor) (Supervisor) Signed:…………………….. Signed:…………………….. Date:……………………….. Date:……………………….. Dr. Iddi Ziblim (Supervisor) Signed:…………………….. Date:……………………….. i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT One of the significant challenges confronting the international community in the post-Cold War era is dealing with intra-state conflicts in various parts of the world, particularly in Africa. In addressing this issue, it has also become essential over time, to address the question of what states must do upon the cessation of hostilities to prevent a recurrence of the conflict. Consequently, post-conflict development, including the rebuilding of infrastructure, political and social institutions, demobilizing, disarming and reintegrating ex-combatants and generally creating conditions for sustained development has according to Krause & Jütersonke 2005 become the ‘core business’ of the international humanitarian and development community. This has created a peacebuilding industry that seeks to prevent recidivism in violent conflicts. While there have been successes, there have also been significant failures in this regard. In 2003, Liberia brought to an end a fourteen year old civil war with the signing of a comprehensive peace accord. With a legacy of institutions shattered by war and long periods of mal-governance Liberia began a process of post conflict development aimed at addressing the human security needs of its people. The main objective of the study is to examine human security in the post conflict development of Liberia from an institutional perspective. A critical aspect of this is to interrogate the extent to which the record of human security is deepening historic socio- economic inequalities and how that threatens the sustainability of Liberia’s post-conflict development. The research hypothesised that the floundering state of institution building in post- conflict Liberia is likely to foster uneven results in human security, re-establish socio-economic inequalities, and engender negative consequences with the potential of instigating relapse into violent conflict. The research findings noted that, whilst Liberia has made tremendous efforts at building institutions to advance various components of human security, there is still a lot of ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh socio-economic inequality between the various counties. The continued spatial inequality is undermining the sustainability of post-conflict development. This will cause Liberia to relapse into conflict. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION To God alone be the Glory iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I first acknowledge God almighty, for his grace and mercy during the time of research and writing. But for the Grace I would not have come this far. My deepest gratitude goes to Prof. Kwame Boafo-Arthur, a former Head of the Department of Political Science and a former Director of the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD), for adding me to his long list of protégés, setting me up on a path of academic development and encouraging me every step of the way. But for him, this thesis would have remained a mirage. My gratitude also go to Professors Kofi Kumado, a former director of LECIAD, for challenging me to pursue higher studies and H.J.A.N Mensah-Bonsu, former Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Liberia, who gave me an opportunity to experience the dynamics of a peacebuilding mission in Liberia and thereby stimulated my interest in post- conflict development. I acknowledge Professor Abeeku Essuman-Johnson and Dr. Iddi Ziblim, both of the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Legon for serving on my supervisory committee and dropping useful hints along the way. I am also grateful to Dr. Emmanuel Debrah, Head, Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, for his useful hints when I barely knew what a doctoral thesis should look like. I am indebted to my good friend - Sam Opoku-Agyakwa of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), for tolerating me during those visits to Liberia and for responding to my numerous emails and text messages seeking clarification for one issue or the other. I acknowledge the goodwill of Mr. Eugene Ndoreera, Chief of Human Rights, (UNMIL) Mr. Bafuor Agyemang-Dua (UNMIL), Mr. Bernard Owadi of the World Food Programme, Mrs. Vivian Bruce-Tetteh of UNDP- Liberia, Maj. (Rtd) Eugene Owusu-Afrifa, Mrs. Ruth Caesar, Mr. Peter Forkparyea Zaizay, Assistant Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Interior and many more who generously granted interviews during my trips to Liberia. I appreciate my colleagues at LECIAD, Afua, Linda, Rita and Julie who encouraged me at times when I thought I had come to the end of the road. I also wish to acknowledge the indefatigable LECIAD Library Assistant, Eric Amarlai Amartey, for his untiring assistance. I acknowledge the memory of my late father, Capt. Victor Nii Attuquayefio, for whom any job worth the while was worth doing well and my ever supportive mother, Lovia. I appreciate them for starting it all. Finally, I say a BIG thank you and God Bless You to my dear wife Cynthia for keeping a healthy home that afforded me the peace of mind to pursue further studies. v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION - - - - - - - - - i ABSTRACT - - - - - - - - - ii DEDICATION - - - - - - - - - iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - - - - - - - - v TABLE OF CONTENTS - - - - - - - - vi LIST OF FIGURES - - - - - - - - - x LIST OF TABLES - - - - - - - - xi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS - - - - - - - - xii CHAPTER ONE: RESEARCH DESIGN 1.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 1 1.2 Problem Statement - - - - - - - - 4 1.3 Hypothesis - - - - - - - - 6 1.4 Objectives - - - - - - - - 6 1.5 Theoretical Framework - - - - - - - 6 1.6 Literature Review - - - - - - - - 13 1.6.1 Defining Human Security - - - - - - 13 1.6.2 History of Human Security - - - - - - 18 1.6.3 From State-Centric Security to Human Security - - - 23 1.6.4 Human Security in Africa - - - - - 27 1.6.5 Measuring Human Security: The Broad & Narrow Approaches - 32 1.6.6 Responsibility for Human Security - - - - - 36 1.7 Methodology - - - - - - - - 43 1.7.1 Research Design - - - - - - - 43 1.7.2 Study Area - - - - - - - - 44 1.7.3 Data Collection - - - - - - - 45 1.8 Significance of the Study - - - - - - - 48 1.9 Organisation of the Study - - - - - - - 49 vi University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh CHAPTER TWO: LIBERIA: AN OVERVIEW 2.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 50 2.2 A Demographic Profile of the Republic of Liberia - - - - 50 2.3 The ACS and the Foundation of Liberia - - - - - 52 2.4 From Independence to the Coup of 1980: Institutionalising Inequality - 55 2.5 Liberia under Samuel Doe: The Dawn of State Breakdown - - - 58 2.6 First Civil War 1989- 1997 - - - - - - - 60 2.7 The Second Civil War and Thereafter - - - - - 63 2.8 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 69 CHAPTER THREE: POST-CONFLICT DEVELOPMENT, INSTITUTIONS & HUMAN SECURITY: EXAMINING THE LINKAGES 3.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 70 3.2 Post-Conflict Development: A Contextual Clarification - - - 71 3.3 Post-Conflict Development: Identifying the Context - - - - 73 3.4 The Elements of Post-Conflict Development - - - - - 76 3.5 Challenges to Post-Conflict Development - - - - - 88 3.6 The Record of Post-Conflict Development: An Overview of Selected Cases 95 3.6.1 The European Recovery Programme (Marshall Plan) - - 95 3.6.2 Sierra Leone - - - - - - - 100 3.6.3 Rwanda - - - - - - - 104 3.6.4 Bosnia and Herzegovina - - - - - - 107 3.7 Human Security in Post-Conflict Development - - - - 110 3.8 Institutions and Human Security: A Review of Some Linkages - - 117 3.9 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 126 CHAPTER FOUR: THE RECORD OF POST-CONFLICT INSTITUTION BUILDING IN LIBERIA: 2003-2011 4.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 127 4.2 Liberia’s Post Conflict Context - - - - - - 128 4.3 Liberia’s Post-Conflict Institution-Building Since 2003 - - - 132 4.3.1 Security Sector Reform - - - - - - 136 4.3.2 Justice and Rule of Law - - - - - - 151 vii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 4.3.3 Economic Revitalisation, Infrastructure and Basic Services - - 163 4.4 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 171 CHAPTER FIVE: HUMAN SECURITY IN LIBERIA: GRAND KRU, MARYLAND, LOFA, GRAND BASSA & MONTSERRADO 5.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 173 5.2 Grand Kru County - - - - - - - - 174 5.2.1 Challenges to Human Security in Grand Kru County - - 175 5.3 Maryland County - - - - - - - - 183 5.3.1 Challenges to Human Security in Maryland County - - - 183 5.4 Lofa County - - - - - - - - - 189 5.4.1 Challenges to Human Security in Lofa County - - - 190 5.5 Grand Bassa County - - - - - - - - 199 5.5.1 Challenges to Human Security in Grand Bassa County - - 199 5.6 Montserrado