Support and Cooperation Democracy and Pluralism Knowledge and Life-Long Education ISBN: 9988-572-94-8 Edited & Published by: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Ghana Cover Design & Layout: Desire Clarke The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre or the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. A commercial resale of published brochures, books and general printed material by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is prohibited unless the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung gives its explicit and written approval beforehand. REFLECTIONS ON SECURITY I Contents Preface 5 About the Authors 7 Chapter 1 Democracy, Political Parties and Stability in Africa...................13 Chapter 2 Elections and Ethnic Politics in Ghana......................................37 Chapter 3 The Rule of Law and National Security.....................................53 Chapter 4 Managing Contemporary Threats to West Africa through Peace Education…………........................................................81 Chapter 5 International Crime in Internal Armed Conflict: An International Approach to the Human Rights-Justice Question in Africa..................................................................127 Chapter 6 The Nature of War in Africa: The Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s War across States......................................171 Preface Security remains an important issue for the socio-economic development of countries all over the world and Ghana is no exception. Indeed, the state has the primary responsibility for the security of all persons under its jurisdiction. With the introduction of private security firms in Ghana, the issue of protecting all persons in Ghana does not rest with the state alone. Thus, changing the roles and function of the security sector actors requires a platform which enables citizens and experts to freely discuss the new challenges facing Ghana’s security architecture and the need to ensure democratic oversight and accountability of the security sector. In this context, the object of state security should be citizen- centred, which does not threaten democracy and human rights or undermine social and economic development. Democratic governance requires a security sector which is responsible and responsive to the needs of the population, which means that security policy should not be threatening and more likely to provide all necessary security needs. There is therefore the urgent need to reorient the thinking, attitudes and modus operandi of both government and state security agencies to meet citizens security needs. This means ensuring open public discourse on certain security issues to ensure participatory security sector governance. I would like to thank all those who have contributed to the publication, particularly the presenters and participants, Dr. Kwesi Aning and the staff of Research Department and my colleagues at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. I hope that this publication will be widely used by researchers and policy makers in Ghana and beyond. Daniela Kuzu Resident Director About the Authors About the Authors Brigadier General (Rtd) Francis Asiedu Agyemfra Having worked as former Chief of Staff and serving as Ghana’s ambassador to the Republic of Liberia (1997-2001), Brigadier General (rtd) Francis Asiedu Agyemfra’s keen interest in conflict prevention and management is unequalled. No wonder he played an active role in the creation of the Economic Community of West African States Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) during the civil war in Liberia in the 1990s. He was also actively involved in the peace processes in Liberia and Sierra Leone, contributing immensely towards the restoration of peace and civilian rule in these two countries. Currently, General Agyemfra works as a security consultant; he is an international election observer and a senior fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a non-governmental organisation in Accra, dedicated to the promotion of multi-party democracy, good governance and free market economy in Ghana and beyond 7 Mr Colin Essamuah Mr Colin Essamuah was educated at Mfantsipim School, Ghana, the University of Ghana and the Johns Hopkins University in the USA. After his education, he did his national service at the Department of History at the University of Ghana in the early 1980s and has since then been in private business. He has been writing rather infrequently on national political issues in the media, a thing he began in 1977. He lives in Accra. Mrs Gifty Anin-Botwe Mrs Gifty Anin-Botwe is a retired Commissioner of Police who read Governance & Leadership for her Master’s degree. She holds certificates in various subjects including Human Rights and Domestic Violence Management. She enlisted in the Ghana Police in 1976 as Assistant Superintendent of Police and worked in various capacities, notable amongst them are Deputy Commander in the Motor Traffic Unit, Accra Regional Command, Licensing and Examination of Drivers and Vehicles, the first Commander of Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit, first female Commandant of the Police College, Director of Criminal Investigation Department, Director of Police Education, Director General of Human Resource, Training and Welfare. Apart from working in the police force in Ghana, she has worked in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Newcastle upon Tyne. Having retired from police work, she works with Gifan Crime Consult, where she offers professional advice on crime-related issues. 8