Ghana has seen a significant decline in its standing on the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI), dropping to 55th globally from 51st in 2023 and a remarkable 40th in 2022.

The sharp fall in its peace ranking comes at a critical time as the country prepares for its December 7 elections, raising concerns about stability and the peacefulness of the upcoming electoral process.

Regional Setback in Peacefulness

Once ranked as the second most peaceful country in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana has now fallen to fourth in the region, overtaken by Mauritius, Madagascar, and Botswana.

This shift underscores mounting internal pressures and the challenges Ghana faces in maintaining its peaceful reputation.

Global Peace Index Insights

The Global Peace Index, an annual report produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), evaluates 163 countries, representing 99.7 per cent of the world’s population.

The index measures peacefulness across three core domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and militarisation.

These factors are analyzed through 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators.

Urgent Need for Peaceful Elections

With the country’s GPI ranking in decline, there is a heightened need for a peaceful electoral process in the upcoming December elections.

The lower peace score points to growing concerns around democratic stability, localised conflicts, and emerging security threats, all of which could impact the integrity of the elections.

Broader African and Global Peace Trends

On a broader scale, Africa continues to struggle with peace, with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remaining the least peaceful globally.

Countries like Sudan and Yemen are ranked among the world’s ten least peaceful nations, reflecting a troubling trend across the continent.

Globally, the GPI report highlights a consistent 17-year decline in peace, driven by political instability, rising deaths from conflict, and an increase in violent demonstrations.

Despite these challenges, the report does show some positive developments, such as improved commitments to UN peacekeeping efforts.