Ghana has become less peaceful. That’s according to the latest Global Peace Index published by Australian based research firm, the Institute for Economics and Peace.

The report comes at a time when the nation’s 2012 presidential election result is being contested at the Supreme Court and with growing suggestions the country has become more polarized than ever.

The 2013 Global Peace Index (GPI) published on June 11 this year measured peace in 162 countries according to 22 qualitative and quantitative indicators of the absence of violence and fear of violence.

The GPI investigates the extent to which countries are involved in ongoing domestic and international conflicts.

According to the Index, the world has become 5% less peaceful since 2008. It puts Europe as the most peaceful region, with Iceland topping the global rankings.

Ghana had a score of 1.899 and slipped to the 58th position in the world. Last year it was 50th and in 2011 it was 42nd.

In Sub Saharan Africa, Ghana’s peace position also dropped from the 5th in 2012 to 7th this year.

Mauritius topped sub-Saharan Africa followed by Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho and Tanzania. Nigeria has dropped in the rankings in Africa to 39th largely due to the Boko Haram attacks.

But the Chairman of the National Peace Council, Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante believes Ghana is relatively peaceful but cautions Ghanaians to protect the peace as the nation is increasingly becoming polarized.

Peace is not about the absence of conflict, he warned.

Meanwhile, the National Commission on Civic Education has intensified its education of Ghanaians to prepare their minds for the impending election petition ruling of the Supreme Court.

The series of meetings with focused groups in communities started in March this year but stalled due to lack of funds.