World's 40th most peaceful Country --Ghana

Ghana is the 40th most peaceful country in the world, while Norway is the most peaceful and Iraq the least, according to a study launched today. (read)
New Zealand ranks second and Denmark third on the list, which notably puts Japan near the top and Russia and Israel close to the bottom. While most European countries are more peaceful, half of the league table, the US is nearer the bottom in 96th place, while Russia is fifth from last on 118th.

The Global Peace Index, published a week before a Group of Eight (G8) summit in Germany, rates 121 countries from Algeria to Zimbabwe on 24 factors/indicators including levels of violence, organised crime and military expenditure.

Ghana is ranked the second most peaceful in Africa after Tunisia
A close look at the details of Ghana's peace indicators and drivers (read) shows that the Potential for terriorist acts, Level of violent crime and Number of jailed population per 100,000 people is very low. However, Corruption perceptions, Ease of access to weapons of minor destruction and Likelihood of violent demonstrations are relatively high.

Some statistics used are however mind-boggling. For example, Unemployment in Ghana is listed as 8%. Spending on education is as low as 4% and GDP per capita marked as $409, which is lower than the government's figure. The index is backed by international figures including the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former US president Jimmy Carter and US economist Joseph Stiglitz, all winners of the Nobel peace prize. It is also supported by Queen Noor of Jordan.

Overall the study found that small, stable countries which are part of regional blocs such as the 27-nation European Union are most likely to be more peaceful. Income and education are crucial in promoting peace, it said.