Where is Liberia Blueprint for Reconstruction?

Over the last couple of weeks, the Liberian presidential debates have gone full throttle, as the candidates rumble through a campaign which ends with voting on October 11, 2005. However, there remains parsimony in policy arguments from the candidates. Their campaign speeches to constituents, evoke the lack of a vision for the collective and the preponderance of personal political ambitions. Liberians, emerging from a protracted social conflict deserve of each presidential candidate, a blueprint for post-conflict reconstruction. This blueprint should exhibit concrete plans on “HOW” to heal Liberia and restore her to her pre-1980 greatness, catering to the political, economic and social deficiencies which forced the country into conflict in the past.

At the core of the healing process in Liberia, there is the need to negotiate a clear understanding and definition of Liberian identity. A hearty dialogue needs to assuage Americao-Liberian and indigenous dichotomies and forestall inter-religious differentiation. Negotiating Liberian identity will dissipate the lingering vestiges of polarization which could provide a catalyst to the return to conflict. It will also create a foundation upon which Liberians will see the need to commit to public and civic service, which is a prerequisite for sustainable reconstruction in Liberia. Civic participation is fundamental to the construction of a solid state, especially in the aftermath conflict. Hence the need for presidential candidates to provide a premise upon which they hope to bolster the engagement of the Liberian within the reconstruction process. A new nationalistic zeal needs to replace the religious discourse which currently pervades campaign manifestos.

The legacy of authoritarianism, which precipitated the decline into conflict in Liberia’s past needs to be addressed, through the formation and crystallization of legitimate and representative governance structures. Taking a cue from institutions of traditional authority in Liberia, there is the need for concerted consultation to create a truly independent electoral commission, a representative legislative body and an independent judiciary. There is also the need to create clear delineation between the executive, judicial and legislative wings of government. It behooves each presidential candidate to articulate how they hope to accomplish these tasks.

The role of the military and police (which in the case of the former has made wanton incursions into Liberian politics in the past), should be institutionalized at the fringes of the political landscape in the service of national security and civil defense. The incoming president will need to clearly complete the full demilitarization, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants. This DDR process should occur concurrently with the creation of an enabling environment for the safe return of both internally and externally displaced populations. These cannot be achieved without a plan.

Then there is the behemoth of the economy. It goes without saying that Liberia is a country of immense geo-strategic, natural and human wealth. This wealth needs to be extracted and managed, with the dividend going to totally rebuild social service infrastructures which we the first casualties of the war. Schools, hospitals, water and sanitation services all over Liberia’s 15 counties need to be restored to full capacity and adequately staffed.
The institutional structures for macro and micro economic management need to be supported by adequate human capacity and operational management to push towards post-conflict economic growth. Inflation would need to be stabilized and unemployment would need to be addressed. Former combatants need to be taken off the streets for transformation into productive assets. While we understand that these issues need to be addressed, the presidential candidates need to show their blueprints.

As the debate rages on, there is the dire need for Liberia’s presidential candidates to provide concrete roadmaps on “HOW” they intend to restore Liberia to its historical place in Africa. The voters would then be called to choose not by the religious fervor displayed by the candidate, not by candidate name recognition, not along ethno-religious lines; but by virtue of the plan which they think will deliver them from the vicious cycle of violence.