The 21st century has seen heightened global debates on sexuality. In Ghana, competing and conflicting statements regarding LGBTI+ identities and practices have emerged from legislators, human rights practitioners, chiefs, and civil society groups. This study, inspired by Foucault's work on sex, sexuality discourse, and power-knowledge relations, investigates the discursive practices of cultural-political elites in Ghana to understand their stances on LGBTI+ identities and practices. Existing studies often adopt a Western-centric view, lacking emphasis on situated contexts and the intersection of Western and non-Western influences shaping identities and power dynamics in Ghana. This study aims to provide a holistic understanding of the discursive practices of cultural-political elites regarding LGBTI+ discourse within the complex socio-political, historical, and cultural context of postcolonial Ghana. The central argument is that while competing and conflicting stances exist, LGBTI+ discourse in Ghana must be understood within its unique situated context. The study explores the discursive practices of cultural-political elites – lawmakers, human rights practitioners, chiefs, and religious leaders – to better understand their stances on LGBTI+ identities and practices. Bureaucratic institutions represent Western socio-political organization, while civil society represents traditional socio-political structures. Data comprises Ghanaian media texts related to LGBTI+ discourse, analyzed using cultural discourse studies and the sociology of knowledge approach to discourse analysis.

Anthropologists and historians have often described sexuality discourse in contemporary African societies similarly to 19th-century Western civilization, where sex was controlled. Studies show that in many contemporary African societies, sexualities other than heterosexual relations face repression and sanctions. In Ghana, growing discussions about sexuality are accompanied by discrimination against LGBTI+ individuals. Discursive struggles, contradictions, and ambiguities exist within national legal frameworks, culture, and traditions regarding LGBTI+ discourse. Culture, tradition, religion, morality, law, and national and international power-knowledge relations all play key roles in interpreting heterosexual and non-heterosexual discourses in Ghana. Various cultures, traditions, and kinship systems historically had social control mechanisms to regulate non-heterosexual relations. Both bureaucratic and traditional social organizations proscribe non-heterosexual relations, and social institutions reproduce sexual proscriptions in public discourse. Heterosexual relations continue to exist as the basis for kinship and socio-political practices, controlled for procreation, economic, and socio-political functions. However, same-sex intimacy exists but is marginalized and considered a deviation, leading to classification as 'normal' and 'abnormal'. Heterosexual relations are recognized, but non-heterosexual relations are not, considered deviations from traditional practices, and proscribed by national laws with colonial roots. Despite this, advocacy groups are emerging to promote LGBTI+ identities and practices through legislative amendments. While Ghana's constitution and international protocols protect fundamental human rights, the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 ambiguously prohibits 'unnatural carnal knowledge,' leading to ongoing discursive struggles. This study aims to interpret the complex socio-cultural processes and competing discursive constructions related to LGBTI+ discourse in Ghana, rather than confirming or dismissing the existence of non-heterosexual relations.

This qualitative study employs a combination of the sociology of knowledge approach to discourse (SKAD), focusing on social relations of knowledge and the politics of knowing, and the cultural approach to discourse, emphasizing cultural politics. This sociocultural discourse analytic approach aligns with Foucault's discourse and power framework, focusing on disciplinary classification, normalization practices, and meaning-making within the cultural context of postcolonial Ghana. The study leverages the local, meso, and macro levels of cultural plurality to holistically understand LGBTI+ discourse. Data were retrieved from five prominent Ghanaian online news portals (Citi news, GTVGBC, Daily Graphic, Ghanaian Times, and Daily Guide) using keywords like "LGBT in Ghana" and "same-sex relations" for the period 2017-2021. This period saw increased discussion due to the President's statement on homosexuality and the emergence of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill. The search yielded 250 articles, with 45 selected for analysis. The analysis focuses on statements and discursive practices of cultural-political elites (religious leaders, traditional rulers, and lawmakers) in relation to knowledge forms and cultural politics within the Ghanaian media sphere. A dialectical analytical method examines the relationship between data (text) and sociocultural and political context, focusing on statements and meaning within the symbolic orders and knowledge forms specific to postcolonial Ghana. The analysis is structured around three themes: the construction of LGBTI+ in the media, LGBTI+ practice and discursive struggle, and the strive for cultural cooperation and harmony. Sequential analysis of core paragraphs from selected articles is performed.

The analysis of media texts revealed several key findings. First, the essentialization of 'Ghanaian culture and traditions' without a detailed contextual definition of the diverse multicultural and multiethnic nation resulted in limited socio-cultural interpretations and understanding of LGBTI+ discourse, leading to ambiguities and contradictions. Religious leaders (Christian and Islamic) often framed LGBTI+ practices as moral aberrations, referencing religious texts and African culture, while overlooking the diversity within those cultures. Traditional rulers similarly rejected LGBTI+ practices, viewing them as alien to Ghanaian culture and traditions. Lawmakers reflected the tension between constitutional human rights provisions and cultural norms, leading to conflicting stances on the proposed anti-LGBTI+ bill. Proponents of the bill framed it as protecting Ghanaian values, while opponents argued it violated constitutional rights. The analysis highlighted the problematic use of generalizations like 'Ghanaian culture' or 'African values', which fail to acknowledge the diversity within Ghana's multiethnic and multicultural society. The study found a significant discursive struggle over the interpretation and understanding of LGBTI+ identities and practices, with varying positions taken by different social actors. For example, while some religious leaders condemned LGBTI+ practices based on religious grounds, others emphasized the need to uphold fundamental human rights in accordance with the Constitution and international protocols. The study revealed that despite the differing views, there was an underlying common interest in protecting human rights. This finding suggests a potential pathway for social harmony. The study also indicated that while same-sex relations are often viewed as 'abnormal' in the context of traditional Ghanaian society and culture, this perspective does not reflect the complexities of contemporary reality, as same-sex relationships exist in Ghana despite legal and societal proscriptions. This tension between cultural tradition and legal rights is central to the discourse. The international community also played a role in this discourse, with the Australian High Commissioner actively opposing the proposed bill, advocating for the protection of LGBTI+ rights.

The study's findings address the research question by demonstrating the significant influence of essentialized cultural narratives on the interpretation of LGBTI+ discourse in Ghana. The essentialization of Ghanaian culture and traditions, without acknowledging the nation's diversity, led to contradictory and ambiguous interpretations, hindering a nuanced understanding of the issue. The findings underscore the need for a contextualized approach that recognizes the complexities of Ghanaian society. The divergent positions of various social actors highlight the need for further dialogue and intercultural engagement to reconcile differing perspectives. The study’s findings are relevant to the broader field of sexuality studies, highlighting the need to move beyond simplistic generalizations about non-Western cultures. The emphasis on the interaction between local traditions and legal frameworks sheds light on the challenges and complexities faced when addressing issues of human rights and cultural identity within a postcolonial context. The coexistence of traditional practices and legal frameworks demonstrates the need for careful consideration when framing legal reforms to safeguard human rights while also respecting cultural sensitivities.

This study highlights the problematic nature of essentializing Ghanaian culture and traditions when interpreting LGBTI+ discourse. The diverse viewpoints of different social actors underscore the need for open dialogue and intercultural engagement. Future research could explore other African contexts, utilize ethnographic methods, and engage more deeply with African discourse theory to enrich our understanding of LGBTI+ issues in non-Western societies.

This study's limitations include its reliance on online news portals as the primary data source, limiting the analysis to the discursive practices of elites. The focus on Ghana as a single case study limits generalizability. While the theoretical framework draws upon Western scholarship, future studies could benefit from incorporating African discourse theory for a more nuanced perspective.