Ghana remains the most peaceful country in West Africa despite dropping four places in the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI).
The development, according to President John Dramani Mahama, is a wake-up call for the nation to consolidate the factors that define its peace and build upon it.
Speaking at the National Peace Council’s 2024 post-election conference held under the theme “Dialoguing for a Stronger Democracy and Social Cohesion” in Koforidua Friday, July 4, 2025, President Mahama expressed the need for Ghana to uphold the principles that define it as a peaceful nation.
He said Ghana’s drop in position on the GPI highlights the need to address the underlying issues that divide the populace.
“Indeed, in a world increasingly plagued by instability and polarization, Ghana must hold fast to the principles of tolerance, dialogue, and peaceful dispute resolution. The 2024 Global Peace Index ranks Ghana 55th globally out of 163 countries, a four-place drop from our 2023 position. While we retain fourth place in sub-Saharan Africa, we remain number one as the most peaceful country in West Africa,” he stated.
Mahama noted that the trend “is a wake-up call, a signal that we must be more vigilant, proactive, and committed to addressing the root causes of discord in our society.”
The President further asserted that his predecessors prioritised peace in their administrations, the reason he will not set the bar lower in making Ghana a force to reckon in matters of peace.
“I have often said that peace is indispensable to national development, like salt is indispensable to a good soup. Without peace, we cannot create jobs, we cannot expand opportunities, we cannot improve education, we cannot attract investment or build a just society.”
He shared the steps being taken by his administration with the National Peace Council and other stakeholders to help keep Ghana among the nations on the apex of the peace radar to strengthen its democracy.
“The government, in collaboration with the National Peace Council and civil society, has implemented a range of interventions to deepen national consensus, strengthen conflict prevention mechanisms, and foster public trust in the institutions that underpin our democracy, especially those responsible for elections, investigations, and prosecution of electoral offenses,” he disclosed.
