MPs heckled in Achimota Forest by police

Members of Parliament’s Committee on Lands and Forestry were on Tuesday, November 25 prevented from entering the disputed area of the Achimota Forest.

The MPs were prevented by officers of the Special Weapon and Tactical (SWAT) Unit of the Ghana Police Service.

The police officers have mounted surveillance in the Forest since Monday after a near confrontation between some officers and guards of the Forestry Commission.

The Commission is accusing the Greater Accra Regional Command of aiding a private developer unduly encroach its lands against the laws of Ghana.

On Tuesday, the police officers challenged the MPs for visiting the encroached area without prior permission from them.

The exchanges that followed led to the police attempting to take a statement from the MPs, who claimed to be there because of the Achimota School and the Forestry Commission.

The Commission’s attempt to construct a fence wall around the forest reserve to fend off encroachers has been the cause of the disagreements with the police claiming to be there on 'order from above'.