A 2028 flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed concern over Ghana’s drop in the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI), slipping six places from 55th to 61st globally.
The latest ranking also saw Ghana drop from fourth to seventh in Sub-Saharan Africa. In his New Year message on Facebook on Thursday, January 1, 2026, Dr. Bawumia noted that the previous administration bequeathed a “solid” foundation to President Mahama, emphasising the need to strengthen what he inherited.
“The foundation President Mahama inherited was solid in many ways. It’s imperative that we build on it and not let it slip. I say this because this matters more now than ever.
“You may have heard about the results of the 2025 Global Peace Index. Ghana has dropped six places to 61st in the world and from 4th to 7th in Sub Saharan Africa,” he stated.
He attributed the drop to rising security issues and political arrests made during the year. Dr. Bawumia noted that Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of democracy in the subregion was marred by these incidents, contributing to the GPI ranking decline.
“They point to growing security worries and pockets of arrests in the country. Again, one of Ghana’s greatest strengths since the inception of the Fourth Republic, has been the independence and credibility of our democratic institutions. The world looks at us and say that is how democracy should work. But in the course of the year, we have seen deepening cracks appearing,” he explained.
The former Vice President also cited the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo as a factor contributing to Ghana’s declining democratic credentials.
“The manner in which Ghana’s third female Chief Justice was hounded out of office in fulfillment of the campaign pledge hurt many of us who believe in the independence of the judiciary.”
Dr. Bawumia expressed concerns about Ghana’s democratic future, citing increased undermining of state institutions for political gain.
“Let me stress unequivocally, that when institutions are weakened, democracy is weakened, when institutions are politicised, trust is lost. Ghana’s democracy must never be sacrificed on the alter of short-term political advantage.”
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