A demolition exercise is underway at La Pleasure Beach in Accra amid a heavy security presence and a tense atmosphere, as residents, workers and businesses scramble to retrieve their belongings. The exercise is being conducted as a joint operation involving personnel from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service.
According to a worker at the facility, the demolition began in the early hours of the morning after security personnel arrived at about 4:00 a.m. and instructed residents and workers to vacate the premises. Several structures at La Pleasure Beach have already been completely demolished, while others have been partially pulled down. Workers and residents have been seen moving through the affected areas, clearing rubble and debris and attempting to salvage whatever belongings they can.
A significant number of soldiers and police officers remain stationed at the site to supervise the exercise. Security personnel have also restricted residents and other individuals from returning to areas where the demolition has already taken place. Although the security presence has helped maintain control, the atmosphere at the scene remains tense. Some residents and workers, particularly those who depend on the facility for their livelihoods, were seen in tears as they watched the demolition.
Speaking to JoyNews’ Ramat Bashiru, one worker said the demolition came as a surprise. He explained that security personnel arrived at around 4:00 a.m. and gave occupants only a short period to remove their belongings before the exercise began. According to him, demolition started roughly 15 minutes after they were instructed to leave. He added that while occupants had received a verbal notice about two weeks earlier, they did not expect the demolition to be carried out so soon.
Demolition follows land dispute
The demolition comes after weeks of controversy over the future of the La Pleasure Beach. Management of the facility had previously rejected a directive to vacate the premises, arguing that there was an ongoing court dispute concerning ownership of the land.
