A-G defends comment on homosexuality

Attorney General and Minister for Justice Martin Amidu

Attorney General Martin Amidu has justified his comments about the position of the law on homosexuality.

Mr. Amidu at a press conference on Tuesday August 30 said “unlawful carnal knowledge in private between two consenting adults is not a crime.”

“…but carnal knowledge between a minor [less than 16 years] and a major [above 16 years], the minor cannot give consent [and] that is a crime…that is the position of the law, it's not been amended and that's all I can say,” he stated.

That position has been challenged by some legal experts and has attracted scathing criticism.

But in a later interview with Joy News the Attorney General said he only stated the law.

Section 104 (b) of the Criminal Offenses Act, 1960 states that: A person who has unnatural carnal knowledge of another person of not less than sixteen years of age with the consent of that other person commits a misdemeanor.

Mr Amidu said this cannot be interpreted as a criminal offence.

Meanwhile the Attorney General has thrown a challenge to people who disagree with him to come forward.