Framing the culture war: Media discourses and the ideological construction of Ghana’a anti- gay+ bill

Abstract

This study examines the dominant ideological tendencies in the media portrayal of Ghana’s Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, widely referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. By employing Framing Theory and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the research explores how the media in Ghana constructs narratives around LGBTQ+ rights, focusing on the intersection of cultural heritage, religious morality, political expediency, and human rights discourse. The study analyzes a variety of media sources, including newspapers, television broadcasts, and online platforms, to uncover the frames and discursive practices used to shape public opinion on the bill. Findings reveal that the media predominantly framed LGBTQ+ activities as a threat to Ghanaian cultural values and religious morality, positioning the anti-LGBTQ+ bill as a protective measure against perceived moral decay and cultural erosion. The bill was portrayed as a political tool to gain public approval, while human rights discourses challenging the bill were largely marginalized. This media framing reinforced dominant ideological structures in Ghanaian society, privileging Afrocentrism and religious conservatism over human rights and social justice perspectives. The study contributes to understanding the role of media in shaping public discourse on controversial social issues, particularly in culturally conservative contexts. It highlights the media’s influence in reinforcing societal norms and marginalizing counter-narratives, with broader implications for media studies and human rights advocacy. Recommendations for future research include comparative media analysis, the role of social media in LGBTQ+ rights debates, and audience reception studies.