Electoral Dynamics and the LGBTQ+ Discourse in Ghana’s Assin North By-Election

This paper is an analysis of how the twist in the LGBTQ + discourse in Ghana influenced voter behaviour in the 2024 Assin North Constituency by-election. This is a preliminary step to help inform policies to address the utter dislike for members of the LGBTQ + community. Despite the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) attempts to sway voters with overnight development projects and vote-buying, the opposition National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) anti-LGBTQ + propaganda campaign proved more effective. The NDC claimed that the NPP’s funding came from the LGBTQ + community aiming to influence the vote on the anti-LGBTQ + bill. This political strategy resonated well with voters, particularly in religious communities, who rejected the NPP candidate based on supposedly support for LGBTQ + values. Our study supports Yale’s attitude change theory, highlighting the influence of persuasive messages on voter behaviour. It particularly underscores the need to address discriminatory rhetoric in political campaigns and protect the rights of marginalised groups. The study concludes that the NDC’s anti-LGQBTQ + standpoint influenced the By-election outcome of the Assin North Constituency. We recommend political correctness on LGBTQ + concerning people’s sexual orientation. Further, policymakers should enforce regulations against hate speech and promote fact-based future campaigns that align with democratic tenets to safeguard the rights of all people in line with International Human Rights conventions.