Annex 1
Interview Protocols
Chieftaincy case study
1.
How does the chieftaincy system work in your area?
2.
Can you tell me about the ongoing conflicts in your area (e.g. ongoing land conflict in Naduni, between the Fomboro and Jaabu families in Wenchiki, any others)?
3.
Who are the main actors (such as Feme Abubakari Awuffor and the Yaa Naa) and in what way do they contribute to the conflict?
a.
Probe: What are the relations between the various gates?
b.
Probe: to what extent are these relations competitive?
4.
To what extent do external groups fuel and reinforce conflict?
a.
Probe: Enquire about external groups (politicians, VEOs, vigilantes)
5.
What is the effect of chieftaincy conflict/competition on relationships in the area?
a.
Probe: What are the effects on people’s lives and the vulnerabilities this creates?
6.
To what extent do the conflicts between chiefs reinforce other conflicts in the area (like ethnic, social and other divisions)?
7.
The current NDC candidate has blamed the NPP for today’s communal violence. What role does the NDC and NPP play in your area?
8.
How do the NPP and NDC use chieftaincy institutions to strengthen their political power?
a.
Probe: If yes, how do the two parties scheme, plan or act? If not, why do you say so?
9.
What actions do you see in the run-up to the upcoming elections by the two parties along land, chieftaincy, or religious lines?
10.
How has your area been affected by the security situation across the border?
a.
Probe: Any VEO activities in this area?
11.
There are extremist groups operating alongside the border: which groups do you consider to be at risk of recruitment or mobilisation by extremist* groups? Why?
12.
Do you think that extremist groups could seek to tap into ethnic, social and other divisions?
13.
Do you think that extremists could link up with some interest groups in the ongoing chieftaincy conflict?
14.
To what extent do you think that the political connections with the chieftaincy make it more difficult or easier for extremists to expand into your area?
15.
To what extent do you think that the upcoming elections in Ghana could offer room for violence or extremists* in your area?
Vigilante case study questions:
Questions for vigilante groups
1.
Which vigilante groups exist in your region?
a.
What are the main ones?
2.
Roughly speaking, how many members do those groups have?
3.
What do you gain from being part of such groups?
a.
Any specific example of something gained?
4.
Which political party do the various vigilante groups support?
5.
How does the political party that employs your group send its instructions?
a.
Can your group autonomously decide what to do?
b.
If so, how do you decide?
6.
Typically, what kinds of action do vigilante groups employ in the region?
a.
Does it include acts of violence?
b.
For example?
7.
How has that impacted the group’s activities?
a.
Are vigilante groups still being supported by the political party they defend?
b.
Does this make activities more difficult?
8.
Will vigilante groups be of importance for the next election and how?
a.
Do you expect violence?
9.
Are vigilante groups compounding and worsening existing tensions in the area?
a.
Ethnic tensions?
b.
Land disputes?
c.
Chieftaincy conflicts?
10.
Do you fear that Burkinabe jihadist groups could affect your area?
11.
Has anything specific already happened?
12.
Are you worried that your group or some member thereof could be wrongly accused of being linked to a jihadist or bandit group?
13.
Do you take any specific action to prevent this from happening?
Questions for politicians/civil society
1.
Have vigilante groups been an important phenomenon in your area?
a.
Since when?
2.
Which vigilante groups exist in your region?
a.
What are the main ones?
b.
Which ones have an influence on elections?
c.
Examples?
d.
Violence?
3.
What kind of influence will they have after the elections?
a.
What do members do?
4.
What role do politicians play in vigilante groups?
5.
How do politicians that employ these groups send instructions?
6.
How are vigilante groups perceived in the area?
7.
Are vigilante groups compounding and worsening existing tensions in the area?
a.
Ethnic tensions?
b.
Land disputes?
c.
Chieftaincy conflicts?
8.
Vigilante groups are now banned. What actions have you locally or your party more generally taken to ensure that vigilante groups have been disbanded?
a.
Were members of vigilante groups offered a professional activity or any other social activity to make their transition out of the groups any easier?
b.
Have vigilante groups and former vigilante groups been approached to dissuade them from taking part in the 2024 general election?
9.
Do you believe that vigilante groups will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming presidential election?
a.
In what way?
10.
Is your area subject to acts of banditry or illegal trafficking?
11.
Do you see a link between vigilante groups and such illegal activities?
a.
Are members of vigilante groups also participating in those illegal activities?
12.
Has your area been affected by jihadist groups?
13.
Do you think that members of vigilante groups could be recruited by jihadist groups in your area?
a.
Has this already happened?
Fulbe case study questions:
1.
Historically, what is your party’s relationship with Fulbe?
2.
What are your policy platforms regarding herders (ranching, farmer-herder conflicts, livestock corridors etc.)?
3.
Are there any prominent Fulbe in your party hierarchy?
4.
How would you respond to Fulbe complaints that they are being stereotyped as foreigners and ignored by politicians?
5.
What kind of outreach have you done with Fulbe communities in previous election cycles?
a.
What are the biggest challenges?
b.
Where have your biggest successes occurred previously?
c.
Is this divisive within the party considering that some do not consider Fulbe to be Ghanaian at all?
6.
What kind of outreach related to the Fulbe are you doing during this election cycle?
a.
Which areas are most “in play” during this year in relation to the Fulbe?
b.
Who are your liaison officials for this community? (i.e., which Fulbe are you working with? Chiefs? Associations?)
c.
What is your message to Fulbe voters?
7.
Do you work alongside or consult Fulbe associations?
a.
Which ones?
b.
Can you give examples of your interactions with them?