Conflict expert and National Coordinator for the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Justin Bayor, says security agencies must take Ghana’s recent drop in a peace Index seriously. In the recent survey by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the research firm’s Global Peace Index (GPI), records Ghana’s rating has dropped by eight points from its initial 50th position. Mauritius topped the index in sub-Saharan Africa followed by Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho and Tanzania. Nigeria dropped to 39th largely due to the Boko Haram attacks. The GPI ranks 162 nations according to their ‘absence of violence’, and by the recent ratings, Ghana’s claim as a peaceful and stable country has been downgraded. Justin Bayor told Joy News the proliferation of light weapons, the recurrent fire outbreaks across the country and nefarious illegal mining activities are a threats to the country’s stability. He said these were causing “disgruntlement” among Ghanaians. He noted these factors contributed to the country’s fall on the GPI and hence must be taken seriously by security agencies. Chairman of the National Peace Council, Prof Emmanuel Asante, has also cautioned Ghanaians to protect the country's peace, waning that peace was not about the absence of conflict.