Ghana drops to 55th in Global Peace Index ahead of elections

Accra, Ghana - Ghana's peacefulness has taken a significant hit, dropping to 55th place in the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI), down from 51st in 2023 and 40th in 2022.

This shift also affects its regional ranking, where Ghana now ranks 4th in Sub-Saharan Africa, surpassed by Mauritius, Madagascar, and Botswana.

The country's declining peace score raises concerns ahead of its December 7 elections. Maintaining a peaceful electoral process is crucial for democratic stability, preventing localized conflicts, and addressing emerging threats.

The Global Peace Index, produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), evaluates 163 countries based on their peacefulness, covering 99.7% of the world's population.

The index assesses countries across three key domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and militarization.

Ghana's drop in ranking is part of a broader trend. The 2024 GPI report reveals a 17-year decline in global peace, driven by political instability, rising conflict-related deaths, and violent demonstrations.

The Middle East and North Africa region remains the least peaceful globally, with Sudan and Yemen ranking as the two least peaceful countries.

Despite this, the report notes a positive development – a stronger commitment to UN peacekeeping efforts, which recorded the most significant improvement among GPI indicators.

This underscores the importance of international cooperation in promoting peace and stability.

Source :Lead News Online