Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe, has clarified that the demolition of structures along the La Beach area in Accra was not part of the government’s ongoing flood mitigation exercise. His clarification follows the demolition of the La Pleasure Beach and the Polo Beach Club near the Labadi Beach Hotel as part of an operation to clear structures along the beachfront. The exercise was supervised by military personnel from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, with support from the Ghana Police Service. Vendors and businesses operating in the area were directed to vacate the premises.
However, in a Facebook post on Friday, October 2, Mr Dogbe said the operation was separate from the activities of the government’s flood mitigation task force. “Let’s not get it twisted. Friday’s action along a section of the beachfront was not a Flood Mitigation Action by the government task force,” he stated.
According to Mr Dogbe, the demolition was unrelated to ongoing flood mitigation works at the Kpeshie Lagoon, East Legon Boundary Road, Oyarifa and behind Mayfair Estates. He explained that the operation was carried out under the supervision of National Security at the request of the Labadi Beach Hotel.
“These are structures, some permanently built (Polo Beach Club and others) on the beach in front of the hotel, and which, according to the business, are adversely affecting the safety, tranquillity and reputation of the Hotel, diminishing the visitor experience and undermining the orderly management of one of Ghana’s most important tourism destinations,” he said.
Mr Dogbe added that the Labadi Beach Hotel would provide further information on its reasons for seeking to reclaim its beachfront. He also expressed concern about sanitation and security, arguing that unauthorised and unregulated commercial activities along the beach created broader challenges.
“We must all be concerned about the serious sanitation issues that these unauthorised and unregulated commercial operations cause, in addition to the security risks,” he said. Mr Dogbe said he had reviewed drone footage and videos of the area before questioning whether the Labadi Beach Hotel was justified in seeking to reclaim its beachfront.
“Is the Labadi Beach Hotel not right in reclaiming its beachfront (I am not talking about the La Pleasure Beach, please),” he asked.
