The Paramount Chief of Asante Asokore Traditional Area and Board Member of the National Peace Council (NPC), Nana Dr Susubiribi Krobea Asante, has voiced his dissatisfaction with the decline in Ghana's ranking on the Global Peace Index (GPI).

In June 2023, the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) released the GPI, in which Ghana ranked 4th as the most peaceful African country and 51st globally with a score of 1.799.

This was a decline in Ghana’s rank on the index in 2022, where Ghana ranked the 2nd most peaceful African country and the 40th peaceful country globally with a score of 1.759.

Accordingly, the Paramount Chief bemoaned that “Sadly, Ghana has lost her place as the most peaceful country in West Africa to Sierra Leone, and second most peaceful country in Sub-Saharan Africa to Botswana.”

He further highlighted that the decline as demonstrated in the statistics was an indication that there has been a prevalence of conflicts in Ghana of late.

According to Nana Dr Asante, the significant increase in the incidence of conflicts in Ghana is attributable to the fact that the substantial resources of the country were now devoted to the maintenance of peace instead of sustainable development.

“This retrogression must be reversed and imposes a duty on all citizens, all political parties, all civil society organisations, all traditional authorities, and all communities as well as all institutions of the state to join forces in eradicating conflicts and the realization of sustainable peace,” he said.

“In this regard the National Peace Council would like to seize this opportunity once again to appeal to the chiefs and people of the Bawku traditional area and other centres of conflict throughout the country to commit themselves to peace. Nobody gains from protracted conflicts.”

The Paramount Chief made these comments during the commemoration of the 2023 International Day of Peace in Accra.

The event was themed, “Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals,” organised by the NPC in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) in Ghana.

Nana Dr. Asante also noted that sustainable peace was a process that required the efforts of both state and non-state actors, as well as a daily renewal of their commitment to peace and love for their shared humanity.

He thereby implored Ghanaians to continually commit to enhancing sustainable peace in the country.

He also emphasised that as the country prepared for the 2024 general elections, it was appropriate to remind all presidential candidates and political parties of their commitment to the existing peace pact signed in the previous three general elections.

Nana Dr. Asante urged Ghanaians to continually commit to enhancing sustainable peace in the country.

Also at the event, the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Mr. Charles Abani noted that as the country prepared for its general elections, peace will be a priority.

Mr Abani stated that the globe has commemorated International Peace Day for the past 41 years, indicating that peace was something that the world needed to work on.

He also emphasised that peace was fundamental for progress and development.