Accra, October 2, 2026 – Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Member of Parliament for La Dade-Kotopon, has voiced firm opposition to the demolition of structures at La Pleasure Beach, arguing that neither local authorities nor community leaders received proper advance notice of the exercise.
In the early hours of Friday, around 4:00 a.m., a joint team from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service entered the beachfront. Workers, residents and business operators were ordered to leave the premises almost immediately. Demolition work started within roughly 15 minutes. Several buildings were fully destroyed while others were left partially damaged. Occupants later searched through the debris in an attempt to recover personal items and equipment.
Madam Sowah arrived at the site during the operation and confronted the security personnel on duty. She expressed disbelief that the clearance had gone ahead after she had earlier been assured by relevant officials that structures near the Labadi Beach Hotel would be left untouched.
“I approached the appropriate authorities and they gave me a clear assurance that Labadi Beach would not be demolished,” she said. “I received tips about a possible exercise, carried out my own checks, and was told nothing of the sort was planned. There was simply no information at all. This action will destroy the livelihoods of ordinary people.”
The MP insisted that the central government was not behind the exercise. She claimed it was being driven by Labadi Beach Hotel and its Board Chairman. “This is the work of Labadi Beach Hotel and their Board Chairman. I put it on record that the government has no knowledge of this operation,” she stated.
She revealed that she had contacted hotel officials for explanation. The Managing Director of Labadi Beach Hotel reportedly told her he was unaware of the demolition, while the Board Chairman confirmed the exercise would proceed on the grounds that the land belonged to the hotel.
Madam Sowah also highlighted the human cost of the clearance. “People depend on these businesses for their daily income. Land was given for the construction of Labadi Beach Hotel, yet this is what the community receives in return,” she said. She further criticised the heavy security presence, asking: “What wrong has La done? Do you intend to harm us?”
Reports indicate that the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly also received no prior notification of the operation.
Context and differing accounts
The demolition occurs against the backdrop of an ongoing land ownership dispute. Operators of La Pleasure Beach had previously resisted orders to vacate, pointing to a pending court case. Despite the unresolved legal process, the clearance was carried out.
The exercise follows a similar operation in September at Laboma Beach, where structures were removed to protect the Kpeshie Lagoon buffer zone and reduce flooding risks. However, Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe, clarified that Friday’s action at La Pleasure Beach was not linked to the government’s flood-mitigation task force.
According to Dogbe, the operation was supervised by National Security at the request of Labadi Beach Hotel. He stated that permanent structures, including Polo Beach Club and others built directly in front of the hotel, were harming the facility’s safety, peace, reputation and overall visitor experience at one of Ghana’s leading tourism sites.
Lieutenant Colonel Frank Oppong Amponsah, Commander of the 48 Engineer Regiment and leader of the operation, confirmed that the exercise was conducted on the orders of the Military High Command.
Polo Beach Club, a well-known entertainment venue adjacent to Labadi Beach Hotel, was among the facilities pulled down together with structures at La Pleasure Beach.
By Friday afternoon, security personnel continued to control access to the cleared sections. Affected traders and operators kept searching the rubble for recoverable items, while the MP’s public protest has drawn attention to questions surrounding communication, land rights and the competing interests of commercial operators and local livelihoods along Accra’s shoreline.
