Lawyer and criminologist Prof Ken Attafuah is appalled over vigilante attacks on suspected homosexuals in James Town. He described the attacks as “barbaric” typical of the ancient days of old in which people arrogated to themselves the powers of morality against others whose lifestyle they considered intolerable. Attafuah insisted Ghana is a law bound society, a fact the moral crusaders must avert their minds to. His outburst follows days of assault on persons suspected to be homosexuals in James Town by some vigilante youths in the area. The youths have vowed to exterminate the act of homosexuality in the area and have subjected suspects and their families to several days and rounds of assault and looting. The victims for fear of their lives have sought refuge at the offices of an NGO in Accra. They told Joy News’ Paa Kwesi Asare harrowing stories about how machete and club wielding young men have stormed their houses and subjected them to series of assault. The ladies suspected to be lesbians alleged the men furiously fondled and fingered their private parts as part of efforts to reorient their sexuality. In an interview, Prof Attafuah told Joy News’ Evans Mensah these are “terrible times” to live in. He condemned in no uncertain terms the actions of the vigilante group reminding them that Ghana still remains a law governing society. He said the actions by the so called moral crusaders have been fueled by months of homophobic sentiments. Under our laws, sodomy –not lesbianism or homosexuality is criminal- and any person or group of persons found to be engaged in the act must be arrested by the appropriate law enforcement agency and prosecuted as the law deems fit, Attafuah insisted. He said the law does not require anybody to embark on a house cleaning exercise to do away with homosexuals, adding, the police have a fundamental duty to protect such victims.