Ghana’s peacefulness has seen a significant drop, as the country ranks 55th in the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI), a decline from its 51st position in 2023 and an even sharper fall from 40th in 2022.
Regional Context
In Sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana now holds the 4th position, having lost its previous ranking as the second most peaceful country in the region. Mauritius, Madagascar, and Botswana now rank ahead of Ghana in the peace index.
Global Peace Index Report
The Global Peace Index, now in its 18th edition, is produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP). The index evaluates 163 countries based on their peacefulness, encompassing 99.7% of the world’s population.
Key Concerns Ahead of Elections
As Ghana heads toward its December 7 elections, the country’s declining peace score highlights the need for a peaceful electoral process. This is crucial for maintaining democratic stability, preventing localised conflicts, and addressing emerging threats.
How the GPI Measures Peace
The GPI assesses countries across three key domains:
Societal Safety and Security
Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict
Militarization
These factors are evaluated using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators.
Africa and Global Peace Trends
On the broader African continent, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remains the least peaceful globally. Four of the ten least peaceful countries in the world are located in this region, with Sudan and Yemen ranking as the two least peaceful.
Global Peace Trends
The 2024 GPI report shows a global decline in peace over the past 17 years. Political instability, rising conflict-related deaths, and violent demonstrations have contributed to this trend.
However, the report also notes a positive development—a stronger commitment to UN peacekeeping efforts, which recorded the most significant improvement among GPI indicators.