Leveraging on Forgiveness and Empathy to Foster Peaceful Social Coexistence and Civic Engagement In Liberia

Leveraging on Forgiveness and Empathy to Foster Peaceful Social Coexistence and Civic Engagement In Liberia

This article[i] is based on the findings of the social cohesion and reconciliation Index (the SCORE Index), a contextual and in-depth study conducted in 2016 and 2018 in Liberia by the Center for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development (SeeD) under joint funding of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (UNMIL) and the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). The SCORE Index was born out of the Cyprus peace process with funding from the USAID and under the framework of the UNDP program Action for Cooperation and Trust (ACT) in 2012. The SCORE Index has been implemented in a dozen countries including Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nepal, Cyprus, Irak, Afghanistan and Liberia as the first African country.

The history of Liberia from 1989 to 2003 is that of a war-torn country where indescribable atrocities and massacres occurred. According to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), established in 2003, over 250,000 people lost their lives in the civil war that started on Christmas Eve of 1989. After the war, numerous initiatives aimed at bridging the chasms dug by the conflict and towards reconciling different ethnic groups, have occurred. Of these, the most notable is the implementation of the Accra Peace Accord signed in 2003 and countless interethnic dialogue initiatives implemented by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and government institutions. The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) established in 2005, during the Transitional Government[ii], conducted a throughout research on the root causes of the conflict, crimes and atrocities committed during the war and subsequently made recommendations to address them in a report known as the TRC Report released in 2010.

Challenges faced when implementing the recommendations from the TRC

The implementation of the TRC recommendations has faced several challenges dissipating the hopes that the report would contribute to justice for victims and address the root causes of the conflict. For example, in 2010, the Supreme Court of Liberia ruled as unconstitutional the recommendation that some public figures, believed to be war and economic crime perpetrators, be barred from public office (Center for Civil and Political Rights 2017 Report in Liberia). The TRC Report also came under criticism for failing to address the then sitting President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who was cited as an aid to Charles Taylor’s rebel group, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia when it started the insurgency in 1989. It is even currently debated in Liberia the appropriateness of implementing war and economic crime courts which are some of the recommendations of the TRC report.

Though the failure to implement the TRC recommendations is felt as injustice for many people in the country, Liberia has come a long way with regards to social cohesion and reconciliation. The SCORE Index shows that forgiveness and empathy[iii] are among the key psychosocial assets fostering societal healing and social cohesion. In the context of the SCORE Index in Liberia, forgiveness was assessed through self-assessing questions aimed at determining whether individuals, especially victims, have ceased to feel resentment against an offender, an enemy, a betrayer, during the civil war or with regards to any situation in which the individual has felt offended or betrayed or wrongfully targeted.

In 2018, over 94% of Liberians surveyed as part of the SCORE Index reported that they have forgiven the wrongs of the past. However, the call for public apologies and truth-telling as necessary restorative measures and as conditions for granting amnesty to perpetrators was high (85%). Likewise, in 2016, the score for forgiveness was 8.0 on a scale of 0 to 10 where 10 means everybody has forgiven and zero that nobody has forgiven. This shows the importance of continued social and psychological healing mechanisms through intergroup dialogue, developing a shared narrative on the wrongs of the past and initiating repentance and public apologies from perpetrators.  The scores for empathy was 8.1 in both 2018 and 2016. Both forgiveness and empathy have been found to be the key drivers of several positive outcomes in Liberia.

Forgiveness and empathy as predictors of the sense of civic duty 

Civic duty is a composite indicator assessing civic responsibility and civic engagement. Whereas civic responsibility assesses the propensity of individuals believing that they can change things in their communities based on their commitments, civic engagement assesses the actual commitments of citizens in the civic space of their respective communities.

Sense of civic duty was found to be a strong mitigator of violent tendencies. Violent tendencies also termed the culture of violence, is a composite indicator assessing aggression, readiness for political violence and endorsement of sexual and gender-based violence. In Liberia, the SCORE for violent tendencies was 1.8 in 2018 and 2.0 in 2016. With regards to violence, a score of less than 1.0 is considered to be normal given that no human society can eradicate violence totally. The study found that individuals with high forgiveness and empathy scores reported fewer tendencies to use political violence, endorse sexual and gender-based violence or display aggressive behaviours.

Likewise, empathy and forgiveness are great contributing factors in constructive citizenship. The study identified three categories of citizens. Passive citizens who do not want to commit to anything within the country and their communities; violent citizens who would not refrain from using violence as a means of action for changes in their communities and constructive citizen who use non-violent and constructive means of action for the betterment of social, political and economic conditions of people in the country.

In a nutshell, despite the fact that many Liberians still feel the trauma of the past, as revealed by a PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) of 1.9 in the 2018 study, forgiveness and empathy can be leveraged to foster peaceful social coexistence, constructive citizenship and civic engagement. In so doing, the restorative measures recommended by the TRC report, notably memorialisation, palava hut[iv] dialogues, truth-telling, and public apologies could be good entry points.

[i]   Opinions expressed in this article are that of the authors and do not represent the positions of SeeD and that of its partners, notably the UNMIL, UNDP, PBF, the Peacebuilding Office of Liberia (PBO) and the Government of Liberia.

[ii] As a recommendation of the Accra Peace Accord signed in 2003, a Transitional Government formed with all the warring factions and other civil society organizations was established and ruled in Liberia from October 2003 to January 2006 after the election of President Elen Johnson Sirleaf.

[iii] Empathy is defined as the ability to place oneself in another’s position, to understand their perspective and/or feel what the other person is experiencing.

[iv] According to the Liberian Independent Human Right Commission, Palava Huts are traditional conflict resolution method wherein respectable members in the community mediate in matters of grave concern in the community and seek to resolve disputes amongst or between individuals and or communities.

About the author

Ako has worked in the fields of peacebuilding, conflict management and community development. Before joining SeeD in December 2017, Ako worked as a Researcher with Interpeace Côte d’Ivoire and as a Project Manager for Search for Common Ground (SFCG) in the former conflict zones of Western Côte d’Ivoire. Ako started his professional career in 2008 as a broadcaster in a community radio station and subsequently rose to the position of Managing Director. The radio station gained a strong reputation in Côte d’Ivoire in 2013 and 2014, reflecting Ako’s commitment to promoting intergroup dialogue, reconciliation and community resilience. In 2015, he was selected as part of President Obama’s flagship program, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Initiative (MWF-YALI). He attended a Civic Leadership Institute at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in 2015 and completed a Professional Practicum at the Accra-based Media Foundation for West Africa in 2016. Ako holds Master degrees in Peace Culture and Conflict Management and Linguistics. AKO works currently as a Project Manager with Search for Common Ground in Bukavu, Eastern DRC

Share:

Ako Emile

Ako has worked in the fields of peacebuilding, conflict management and community development. Before joining SeeD in December 2017, Ako worked as a Researcher with Interpeace Côte d’Ivoire and as a Project Manager for Search for Common Ground (SFCG) in the former conflict zones of Western Côte d’Ivoire. Ako started his professional career in 2008 as a broadcaster in a community radio station and subsequently rose to the position of Managing Director. The radio station gained a strong reputation in Côte d’Ivoire in 2013 and 2014, reflecting Ako’s commitment to promoting intergroup dialogue, reconciliation and community resilience. In 2015, he was selected as part of President Obama’s flagship program, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Initiative (MWF-YALI). He attended a Civic Leadership Institute at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in 2015 and completed a Professional Practicum at the Accra-based Media Foundation for West Africa in 2016. Ako holds Master degrees in Peace Culture and Conflict Management and Linguistics. AKO works currently as a Project Manager with Search for Common Ground in Bukavu, Eastern DRC

1 Comment

  1. Amb. Tunde Ajisomo

    Says December 15, 2022 at 1:04 pm

    Ako, Thanks once again for this excellent write-up on Liberia’s forgiveness and empathy component as part of the SCORE Analysis that you and your team carried out in 2016 and 2018. I recalled you interviewed me as the then ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia and your findings are still very relevant till today and tomorrow. Let’s be in touch and well done for the excellent work that you are doing in the areas of Peacebuilding, conflict resolution and mediation. Let’s be in touch.

Leave your comments

FIIFI BOATENG

Fiifi is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Communications and Information Officer at the West Africa Civil Society Institute. He joined the Institute in December 2020.

NANCY KANKAM KUSI

Nancy is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Programme Officer in the Knowledge Management unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute. She joined the Institute in January 2021.

AGNES ADWOA ANIMA

Agnes is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Head of the Administration unit in the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in October 2021.

DORIS ODEI

Doris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social sciences (Economics and Sociology) from the University of Cape Coast. She is passionate about impacting young lives hence co-founded Impart Foundation. A non-profit organization which seeks to empower young lives through education, technology and entrepreneurship.

PRINCE AKOWUAH

Prince Akowuah is a Ghanaian and currently the Programme Assistant in the Translation Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

MAXWELL APENTENG

Maxwell Apenteng is a Ghanaian and joined WACSI in September 2010. He provides gardening and janitorial services at the Institute.

GEORGE ADU-MINTAH

George Adu-Mintah is a Ghanaian and currently the Protocol Assistant/Driver at the West Africa Civil Society (WACSI). He joined the Institute in October 2006.

IBRAHIM KWAKU GBADAGO

Ibrahim Kwaku Gbadago is a Ghanaian. He joined the Institute in 2008 and provides janitorial services and assisting the institute's errands. Before joining the Institute, he worked at the Palestinian embassy in Accra, Ghana.

RUTH YAKANA

Ruth Yakana is from Cameroon and currently the Receptionist at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

BETHEL KWAME BOATENG

Bethel is a Ghanaian. He provides technical and IT related support to the Institute. He joined the Institute in October 2006.

WHITNAY SEGNONNA

Whitnay Segnonna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Management from the University of Benin. With 2 years of experience, she has a strong knowledge of organizational and project management. Combined with her bilingualism, she is very passionate about her work. She joined WACSI as Project Assistant on Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) for the Capacity Development Unit.

STELLA YAWA WOWOUI

Stella Yawa Wowoui holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Translation Studies. She has a perfect grasp of both French and English, as well as an intermediate level in Spanish. She is currently working as a Project Assistant on the Techsoup Project.

KWAME ASANTE

Kwame is an experienced IT Consultant/Software Developer. He is skilled in Web Applications Development, Digital Security, Database Management, Digital Marketing and Brand Management. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology and is a Microsoft Programme Alumni. He is currently serving as a Marketing and IT Officer on the Techsoup Project.

GRACE AKPENE ZIGGAH

Grace Akpene Ziggah is a Togolese and currently the Logistics Officer and also assists in administration duties at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in June 2009.

LILLIAN DAFEAMEKPOR

Lilian Dafeamekpor is a Ghanaian and currently the Assistant to the Executive Director at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

JOHN P. FRINJUAH

John P. Frinjuah has expertise and interests in civil society, international development, democracy and governance, conflict, crisis, and security. He has extensive experience working with civil society and international development organizations where he supported and managed research, programmes, and provided technical assistance on a variety of themes around public policy, governance, and development. He is an alumnus of the University of Ghana and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy - Tufts University in the United States, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from two institutions respectively. John speaks English, French and several Ghanaian and regional West Africa languages.

GERVIN CHANASE

Gervin has extensive international development experience, including 5 years of policy advocacy and capacity building of grass root organisations. He has implemented over the years a combination of agriculture value chain, livelihood, food security and governance and rights programmes.
Prior to joining WACSI, Gervin worked on two USAID projects focusing on agriculture value chain development and governance in northern Ghana
Gervin holds a master’s degree in development & Governance from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany as well as a Masters in Global Studies from the Universities of Vienna (Austria), Leipzig (Germany) and California (Santa Barbara), USA. He is passionate social justice and inclusion.

LEANDRE BANON

Leandre Banon, Beninese, joined WACSI in September 2014 as Capacity Development Programme Assistant. Since then, he has worked in various units within the Institute to support operational and institutional capacity strengthening programmes for civil society in the region. Currently serving as Capacity Development Programme Officer at WACSI, his main responsibilities involve designing, planning, implementing and monitoring capacity development programmes for civil society constituents and grouping across the West Africa. Leandre is a certified Change the Game Academy Programme Trainer. His background lies in the areas of economics and development planning.

SAMUEL APPIAH

Samuel Appiah is a Ghanaian and currently the Programme Officer in the Finance and Administrative Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). He joined the Institute in May, 2016.

JIMM CHICK FOMUNJONG

Jimm Chick Fomunjong, Cameroonian, joined WACSI in May 2018 as the Head of the Knowledge Management and Communication Units of the Institute. He has over ten years’ experience as a journalist and a development communications expert. He has a vast experience in supporting African organisations to strengthen their internal and external communications, building and sustaining relationships with the media and, leveraging on the power of social media to promote their mission. He is also excellent at supporting organisations to set up and operationalise functional communications and knowledge management systems. He has a deep passion and expertise in supporting Africans and African civil society organisations to document their praxis, share and learn from experiences documented from the African civil society sector.

FRANCK A. SOMBO

Franck Sombo is a development practitioner with the drive to lead self and others to influence productivity and efficiency. His work involves supporting organisations to develop strategic plans, design monitoring and evaluation systems, develop and use relevant performance measurement tools to track progress, assess organizational growth and institutionalise learning. Franck has eight years of experience working with WACSI where he currently serves as the Head, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. His academic qualifications include Masters in Organisations’ and Projects’ Management, and in Business Sciences and a High National Diploma in Finance and Accounting.

Franck is a Fellow of the International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) and a graduate of the Graduate Training Institute (GTI) - Ghana with specialization in Strategic Management and Corporate Leadership. He has a rich experience in Project Management, Capacity Development, Strategic planning, Data Analytics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Training and Facilitation, Mentoring and Coaching among others.

OMOLARA T. BALOGUN

Omolara is a development practitioner and advocacy strategist with over 15 years of progressive experience in development programming targeted at strengthening civil society in West Africa.

She joined WACSI in November 2009 as a Regional Advocacy Consultant and later became the first Policy Advocacy Officer of the Institute in 2010.

She was promoted to Head of the Policy Influencing and Advocacy (PIA) Unit in 2015. As the Head of the PIA unit, Omolara offers strategic direction to the Institutes’ ambitions to connect and convene groups of organised and organic civil society actors; and influence regional and global discourses on crosscutting policy issues including—civil society regulations, sustainable development goals, civic space and enabling environment, aid effectiveness, gender equality, and civil society accountability.

Previously, Omolara served as a Programmes Associate with the Women in Peace and Security Network-Africa (WIPSEN-Africa), where she worked with her team to design and implement pan-African programmes on—multidimensional peace support operations and gender mainstreaming in security sector reform in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

She also served as a Service Development Marshal at TVQ Consulting Group, a customer service firm focused on designing strategic customer relationship and business growth plans for private and public financial institutions in Nigeria.

Omolara is a social justice advocate, a network weaver, and a convener. She has a postgraduate degree in Peace and Conflict Studies; a degree in International Relations and History, from the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria respectively.

She also holds executive certificates in Behavioral Science in Public Policy from Harvard University Executive Education in Cambridge and in Citizen Advocacy from the Coady International Institute, St Francis Xavier University in Canada.

KWABENA KRODUAH

Kwabena Kroduah is a Ghanaian and currently heads the Finance Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). He joined the Institute in January 2008.

CHARLES KOJO VANDYCK

Charles currently serves as the Head of the Capacity Development Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). Charles has over 10 years of experience working in international development and social justice issues in Africa. Charles has expertise in strengthening civil society and public agencies including the design and implementation of governance and leadership programmes, development of knowledge pieces and policy advice. Charles was the founding Board Chair of Innovation for Change (i4C)-Hub Afrique, as well as the founding member of the International Consortium on Closing Civic Space (iCon), an initiative of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC. Charles currently serves as the Member of the Governing Board (Coordination Collective) of Africans Rising. He is a Member of the Development Studies Association, United Kingdom. Charles is a 2017 Stanford University Fellow for Nonprofit Leaders and a certified Change the Game Resource Mobilisation Trainer.

NANA ASANTEWA AFADZINU

Nana Afadzinu is a Ghanaian and currently serves as the Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in October 2010.