A joint team of military and police personnel has commenced the demolition of structures at the La Pleasure Beach in Accra, triggering resistance from the Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah.
The exercise, which began in the early hours of Friday, October 2, 2026, is being carried out by personnel of the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, with support from the Ghana Police Service.
According to reports from the scene, security personnel arrived at about 4 a.m. and directed workers, residents and operators at the facility to vacate the area. Several structures have since been completely demolished, while others have been partially pulled down.
Workers and residents were seen salvaging personal belongings from the rubble, with some reportedly becoming emotional over the destruction of businesses and facilities on which they depend for their livelihoods.
The operation has also been met with strong opposition from the La Dadekotopon MP, who confronted military personnel at the site and questioned why the demolition was proceeding despite what she said were assurances from government officials that the area would be spared.
Ms Sowah said she had engaged the relevant authorities over the planned exercise and had been 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,” she said.
She said she was therefore surprised to arrive at the site and find the military undertaking the demolition, insisting that neither she nor her team had been adequately informed.
The MP further questioned the basis for targeting the La area and asked: “What has La done?”
She also expressed concern about the conduct of the 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.
Land ownership dispute
The demolition follows weeks of controversy over the future of the La Pleasure Beach and the ownership of the land on which several businesses operate.
Ms Sowah said she was subsequently informed that the structures were being demolished because the land belonged to the Labadi Beach Hotel. She disputed the circumstances surrounding the exercise and said she had contacted officials of the hotel.
In comments reported from the scene, she said the hotel’s managing director told her he was unaware of the demolition, while a board chairman allegedly indicated that the exercise had been authorised because the land belonged to the hotel.
The development comes against the backdrop of wider demolition exercises undertaken by the 48 Engineer Regiment in the La-Laboma coastal area.
Laboma demolitions
In September, Graphic Online reorted that the military demolished structures at Laboma Beach as part of a government-led post-flood mitigation exercise. Authorities said those structures were obstructing the Kpeshie Lagoon and restricting the natural flow of water into the sea.
The 48 Engineer Regiment previously explained that its operations were focused on removing structures identified as obstructing waterways and contributing to flooding, rather than undertaking blanket demolitions.
However, the circumstances surrounding the La Pleasure Beach exercise have generated a separate dispute, particularly over land ownership and the status of ongoing legal proceedings.
A recent report stated concerns that the courts should determine the ownership dispute before demolition proceeds.
As the demolition continues, affected operators and residents are being forced to clear their belongings while the MP maintains her opposition to the exercise and demands answers from the authorities over the decision to proceed.
