Ghana has suffered a decline in its standing on the world stage of peaceful nations, slipping six places in the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI) to 61st globally and 7th in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The rankings, released this month by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), place Ghana behind regional leaders such as Mauritius, Botswana, Namibia, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Madagascar in terms of peacefulness.
The report marks yet another setback for a country long regarded as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies. In 2024, Ghana ranked 55th globally and 4th in Sub-Saharan Africa, following a slide from 51st place the previous year.
The long-term trend is even more concerning. In 2021, Ghana was ranked 38th globally, but steady deterioration over five years has seen it fall 23 places.
Analysts point to domestic challenges as the key drivers of the country’s decline. Rising chieftaincy disputes, tribal tensions, electoral violence, and vigilantism have left their mark on Ghana’s once-prized reputation for stability.
The 2020 general election was marred by the killing of eight citizens, while the 2024 polls also recorded violent clashes and deaths. Recurring conflicts, such as the protracted tensions between Kusasis and Mamprusis in Bawku and the chieftaincy dispute in Nkwanta, have further fuelled instability and undermined Ghana’s score on the peace index.
The Great Fragmentation
The IEP report notes that Ghana’s trajectory mirrors a broader global decline in peacefulness. It reveals that worldwide peace has fallen to its lowest level since the GPI was first introduced in 2008, describing current conditions as “The Great Fragmentation.”
According to the findings, the world is experiencing a fundamental reshaping of international relations not seen since the Cold War, with conflict deaths rising, geopolitical rivalries accelerating, and social cohesion weakening.
Globally, the number of conflicts has reached its highest point since the end of the Second World War. Yet, unlike past decades, many of these conflicts are becoming increasingly unwinnable and prohibitively expensive.
Despite this, international investment in conflict prevention has fallen sharply, compounding the risks. In the past year alone, 74 countries recorded an improvement in their levels of peacefulness, while 87 countries saw deterioration, illustrating a sharply divided world.
The 2025 report highlights the assertiveness of middle-level powers in their respective regions as another driver of fragmentation. The last decade has witnessed major shifts in influence, with regional actors becoming more aggressive in asserting their roles.
In 2023, a record 78 countries were involved in conflicts beyond their borders, underscoring the expanding reach of internationalised disputes. Since 2010, the number of internationalised intrastate conflicts has risen by 175 percent, according to the IEP.
Military Spending Outpaces Peacekeeping Commitment
The GPI further warns of structural weaknesses in global conflict management. While military spending continues to grow worldwide, resources dedicated to peacekeeping and peacebuilding are shrinking.
In 2024, expenditure on peace-related activities stood at $47.2 billion—just 0.52 percent of total global military expenditure in purchasing power parity terms. This marks a 26 percent decline in real terms from the $64 billion recorded in 2008.
The imbalance between rising conflict and declining peace investment reflects what the IEP describes as an “inflection point” for the world.
Geopolitical fragmentation, which had steadily decreased since the end of the Cold War, has now surged past Cold War levels, exacerbated by economic stagnation, ballooning debt in fragile economies, and the weaponisation of trade and interdependence.
The report also drew attention to inequalities in global media coverage of conflict. Civilian deaths in high-income countries, it notes, receive 100 times more media attention than a comparable number of deaths in low-income nations, skewing public perception of where the gravest crises lie.
Ghana at Risk
For Ghana, the decline in peacefulness carries significant implications. The country’s status as a beacon of democracy and stability in West Africa has often been a cornerstone of its diplomatic appeal and economic prospects.
Slippage in global rankings not only reflects internal challenges but could also weaken investor confidence and international standing.
Ghana must urgently address the root causes of its declining peacefulness. Strengthening mechanisms for conflict resolution, especially in chieftaincy and ethnic disputes, remains a priority.
Similarly, ensuring credible, transparent, and violence-free elections will be crucial in reversing the trend of political violence. The state’s capacity to deal with vigilante groups, promote justice, and reinforce social cohesion will also determine whether the country can regain its place among Africa’s most peaceful societies.
The IEP’s findings suggest that Ghana’s downward movement is not inevitable. Other African nations, including Sierra Leone and The Gambia, have made notable gains despite facing comparable challenges. With concerted reforms and stronger conflict management systems, analysts believe Ghana could restore its reputation for peace.
