By Rihanna Adams, GNA
Accra, Oct. 2, GNA – Ms Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for La Dadekotopon, on Friday confronted military personnel at the La Pleasure Beach Hotel over the demolition of structures at the facility.
The MP, who questioned the basis for the exercise, said she had engaged relevant authorities over the planned demolition and was assured that structures around the Labadi Beach Hotel would not be affected.
“I went to where I had to go to, the authorities, and they assured me that Labadi Beach would not be demolished,” she said.
Ms Sowah said she was therefore surprised to arrive at the site and find military personnel undertaking the demolition, adding that neither she nor her team had been adequately informed.
She questioned why the La area was being “targeted”, asking: “What has La done?”
The MP also expressed concern about the conduct of some security personnel, alleging that some military personnel were firing shots and wielding guns at people at the scene.
“What is it, do you want to kill us, what has La done?” she questioned.
The demolition, which began in the early hours of Friday, was reportedly carried out by personnel of the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, with support from the Ghana Police Service.
The security personnel reportedly arrived at about 0400 hours and directed workers, traders, residents and other operators at the facility to vacate the area.
Many structures were demolished, while others were partially pulled down as affected persons struggled to retrieve their belongings from the rubble.
The exercise left traders and other operators stranded, with some expressing concern about the loss of their businesses and sources of livelihood.
Mr Prosper Adotey, one of the shareholders at the facility, said his workers informed him about the demolition at about 0300 hours.
“We went home after work and this early morning at 0300 hours, my boys called me to inform me that the military were demolishing the place, as they warned us two weeks ago,” he said.
Mr Adotey said the demolition had progressed from structures inside the facility to the main gate, making it difficult for operators to retrieve some of their belongings.
“As you can see, after they are done demolishing inside, they came out and they are demolishing the main gate. We are not able to take some things there; we can’t even enter the place,” he said.
He said the operators understood that the exercise was being carried out on the authority of the Military High Command.
“Government is not aware as far as we know. They say it is from the Military High Command and we can’t stop them,” he said.
Ms Beatrice Aku Tawiah, an operator at Labadi Beach under Princess Wala Company, said the sellers were not informed about the demolition.
She said the company employed more than 70 workers and that the exercise had destroyed her property and caused significant financial losses.
“No information was given to the sellers at the Labadi Beach. Princess Wala Company has more than 70 workers. The military have destroyed my things,” she said.
“I have lost over one million Ghana cedis in this place; my properties have been destroyed,” she added.
Ms Tawiah said she had invested loans into the business and was now uncertain how she would repay.
“What they have done today is not good. I don’t know the work I am going to do. I even took a loan for this business and I don’t know how I can get the money to pay,” she said.
Some affected traders and workers were seen salvaging belongings from the demolished structures, while others stood by the rubble in distress and anguish.
The official reasons and directives underpinning Friday’s demolition could not immediately be established.
In September 2026, some structures at Laboma Beach within the same enclave were demolished by the Government’s Post-Flood Mitigating Task Force.
The Task Force said that exercise formed part of a series of operations in areas including Boundary Road in East Legon and Oyarifa, focused on desilting and dredging water bodies and removing structures identified as obstructing waterways to mitigate flooding.
Mr Stan Dogbe, the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, however clarified that Friday’s demolition of structures along a section of the La beachfront was not part of the Government’s flood mitigation operations.
He said the exercise was undertaken under the supervision of the National Security at the request of Labadi Beach Hotel, which had raised concerns about structures and commercial activities along its beachfront.
In a Facebook post reacting to the demolition, Mr Dogbe stressed that the exercise should not be confused with activities being undertaken by the Government’s flood mitigation task force.
It affected locations including the Kpeshie Lagoon, East Legon Boundary Road, Oyarifa and areas behind Mayfair Estates.
“Friday’s action along a section of the beach front was not a Flood Mitigation Action by the government task force,” he emphasised.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Rihanna Adams