Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe, has clarified that Friday’s demolition exercise along part of the La beachfront was separate from the government’s ongoing flood mitigation operations.
In a Facebook post, Mr Dogbe explained that the exercise was undertaken under National Security supervision following a request from Labadi Beach Hotel.
The clarification distinguishes the La beachfront operation from activities being undertaken by the government’s flood mitigation task force at locations including the Kpeshie Lagoon, East Legon Boundary Road, Oyarifa and areas behind Mayfair Estates. According to the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, those interventions are intended to support the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources in reducing the risk of future flooding.
Mr Dogbe therefore urged the public not to associate Friday’s action with the task force’s flood control mandate. He indicated that the structures targeted along the beachfront were permanent and temporary commercial facilities situated in front of the hotel.
“Let’s not get it twisted. Friday’s action along a section of the beach front was not a Flood Mitigation Action by the government task force.”
Stan Xoese Dogbe
The Deputy Chief of Staff Operations explained that the exercise was conducted at the request of Labadi Beach Hotel, which raised concerns about structures operating along its beachfront. He noted that the hotel has linked the presence of the facilities to concerns about safety, tranquillity, its reputation and the experience of visitors.
Mr Dogbe pointed specifically to the Polo Beach Club and other structures as part of the facilities affected by the operation. He added that the hotel itself would be better placed to provide further details on the reasons for seeking to reclaim the beachfront.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations raised separate concerns about sanitation and security along the affected stretch of the coast. He argued that unauthorised and unregulated commercial activities could create challenges beyond questions surrounding the ownership or use of particular sections of the beachfront.
Directing attention to footage from the area, Mr Dogbe disclosed that he has reviewed drone images and other short videos showing conditions along the beach. He subsequently questioned whether the hotel was justified in seeking to reclaim the section of beachfront directly in front of its facility.
Mr Dogbe stressed that his clarification should not be interpreted as a comment on the separate La Pleasure Beach issue. He specifically distinguished the beachfront section involving the Labadi Beach Hotel from the La Pleasure Beach operation.
Military Demolishes Structures at La Beach Amid Local Resistance
Several structures at La Pleasure Beach and along the La beachfront in Accra were demolished on Friday as a joint military and police operation cleared parts of the coastal area. Personnel from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, supported by the Ghana Police Service, supervised the exercise.
The operation began in the early hours of Friday, with security personnel reportedly arriving at about 4:00 a.m. and directing workers, residents and business operators to vacate the area. Several structures were subsequently pulled down, while others were partially demolished as the clearance continued.
Polo Beach Club was among the prominent facilities affected by the exercise. Other structures within the La Pleasure Beach area were also demolished, leaving operators and workers to retrieve belongings from the affected premises.
The exercise generated resistance from the Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, Honourable Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, who arrived at the scene and questioned the decision to proceed with the demolition. She indicated that she previously engaged authorities over the planned exercise and was assured that structures around the Labadi Beach Hotel would not be demolished.
“I went to where I had to go to, the authorities, and they assured me that Labadi Beach would not be demolished.”
Honourable Rita Naa Odoley Sowah
The MP also questioned the level of communication surrounding the operation, saying local authorities and traditional leaders had not been adequately informed. She further raised concerns about the presence of armed military personnel at the site during the exercise.
The demolition has also revived a dispute over the ownership of the beachfront land. Operators of La Pleasure Beach have previously challenged directives to vacate the area, arguing that ownership remains contested and that the matter is before the courts.
Earlier reports indicated that the National Security Council Secretariat had issued a 24-hour ultimatum to operators at La Pleasure Beach ahead of a planned demolition. Management of the facility rejected the directive and argued that the ownership dispute should first be resolved through the legal process.
Friday’s operation therefore affected both commercial facilities and businesses operating along the beachfront. The demolition has generated concerns from affected operators and the area’s parliamentary representative, while security personnel have continued the clearance exercise.
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