Ghana’s Peace Ranking Declines, Group Raises Alarm

ACCRA, Ghana — The Universal Friendship Organisation has raised alarm over Ghana’s reported 38-place decline in the Global Peace Index over five years, urging the government, political parties and citizens to take urgent steps to protect the country’s peace and social stability.

The organisation said Ghana, which ranked 38th globally and second in Africa in 2021, has fallen to 76th globally and 10th in Africa in 2026, describing the trend as a cause for concern as the country marks the 2026 International Day of Peace on September 21.

The organisation made the call in Accra during its Peace Campaign Awareness programme, held under the theme, “Invest in Peace for Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday.”

While commending successive governments for their efforts to protect lives and sustain Ghana’s image as a beacon of peace, the organisation said the country must urgently address the factors contributing to the reported decline.

It said Ghana improved from 44th globally and sixth in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2016, with a GPI score of 1.715, to 38th globally and second in Africa in 2021, its strongest position in the decade under review.

According to the organisation, Ghana subsequently ranked 40th globally and second in Africa in 2022; 51st and fourth in Africa in 2023; 55th and fourth in Africa in 2024; 61st and seventh in Africa in 2025; and 76th globally and 10th in Africa in 2026, with a score of 1.943.

It said Ghana now trails Mauritius, Botswana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Senegal in the 2026 ranking.

The organisation identified the high cost of living, youth unemployment, inequality, chieftaincy disputes, communal conflicts, violence, discrimination, political polarisation, intolerance and mistrust among factors it believes are threatening Ghana’s peace.

As Ghana approaches another political season, the organisation cautioned political actors against self-interest politics, hate speech, vote-buying, insults and divisive campaigns.

It said Ghana’s peace was bigger than any political party, candidate or personal ambition, stressing that “political power is meaningless without a peaceful nation to govern.”

The organisation called on the government to increase investment in youth employment, social justice and citizen safety, while urging political parties to adopt decent and issue-based campaigns.

It also urged traditional and religious leaders to promote dialogue and inclusion and called on citizens to practise tolerance, friendship and peaceful coexistence in their daily lives.

The President of the Universal Friendship Organisation, Samuel Adobah, said deliberate investment in peace was necessary to reverse the reported decline and restore Ghana’s position among Africa’s most peaceful countries.

The organisation said it wanted Ghana to reclaim a place among the three most peaceful countries in Africa, stressing that peace should be treated as a national investment.

“Peace is not cheap, but it is cheaper than conflict,” the organisation said.

It urged Ghanaians to use the 2026 International Day of Peace to renew their commitment to unity, tolerance, friendship and peaceful coexistence.