Sexuality in Transition: Examining the Changing Sexual Orientation and Behavior among Ghanaians

The main purpose of this study is to explore how sexual orientation and behaviour are discussed in Ghana in this global era of sexual transition. Research on sexuality in Ghana has been scanty due to the nature of Ghanaian society, where sensitive issues like sexuality are not openly discussed and researched.The discourse is fueled, to a great extent, by moral panic, which invariably impinges on an unbiased discussion of the issue. Existing discourses mainly emphasize the preservation of heterosexuality as the only form of African sexuality, while amplifying the implications of same-sex affairs for the conventional family and marriage system, generational continuity, and religious values. The data for this research study were gathered through contents and editorials of major online news portals in Ghana as well as other literature on the topic. This study’s findings revealed that religion, culture, and traditions play a central role in shaping views about sexuality among Ghanaians . The findings also highlighted the impact of cultural contact in shaping several aspects of sexuality, including same-sex and other non-heterosexual relationships. The theoretical implications of this study’s results are discussed in terms of how they can help to clarify culturally informed models focusing on the role played by society, religion, family, and laws, in the development of people‘s perspectives about sexuality. In other words, intersectionality has become an important concept within gender research, emphasizing that social inequalities should be seen in the light of other identities than gender alone. This theoretical perspective suggests that identities interact and shape people’s experiences and power positions. The practical and educational implications of this study’s results are also discussed.