The Member of Parliament for La Dade-Kotopon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has challenged a demolition exercise at the La Pleasure Beach, arguing that community leaders and local authorities were not adequately informed before the operation began.
Madam Sowah, who went to the site and confronted security personnel during the exercise, said the demolition was threatening the livelihoods of people who operate businesses in the area.
She also questioned the basis for the exercise, alleging that the government was not behind the operation and that the Labadi Beach Hotel and its Board Chairman were leading it.
“It is the Labadi Beach Hotel with their Board Chairman who is leading this exercise. Government has no knowledge; I will put it on record: government has no knowledge about this. It is the Labadi Beach Hotel and their board chairman leading the exercise,” she said.
The MP said she had received information about a possible demolition and made enquiries with the relevant authorities, but was initially assured that no such exercise would take place.
“I got information, I did my investigations, and they said they were not coming to demolish the place. So no information whatsoever. They want to destroy the livelihood of the people,” she said.
According to her, she subsequently contacted the Managing Director of the Labadi Beach Hotel, who she said told her he was unaware of the planned demolition.
“I called the MD for Labadi Beach Hotel. He said he didn’t know anything about it,” she said.
Madam Sowah said her conversation with the Board Chairman of the hotel, however, produced a different response.
“I called the Board Chair, and he told me on authority that they were going to demolish the place because it belongs to Labadi Beach Hotel,” she said.
She further claimed that traditional authorities in the area had not released the land to the hotel, raising questions about the basis for the exercise.
“I have spoken to my chiefs this morning. They have not given this land to them. And even their own land, they have issues on it. And so we were not made aware,” she said.
The MP said the development had caused concern among residents and traders whose livelihoods depend on activities at the beach.
“Because people are earning their livelihoods here. We have given you land to build the Labadi Beach Hotel, and now this is the reward of the people,” she quizzed.
She also questioned why the exercise was taking place despite assurances she said she had received from government authorities.
“Government assured me that this is not happening. So why this morning? Why?” she asked.
Madam Sowah also raised concerns about the deployment of armed security personnel at the site, saying the presence of the officers had heightened tensions during the exercise.
“I have called the authorities, and they said they don’t know anything about it. And now they are welding their guns at us,” she said.
She rejected any suggestion that she had failed to engage the relevant authorities, insisting that she had made efforts to establish whether the demolition would take place.
“So it’s not that I sat down unconcerned, but most of the things they would not inform us; not even my chiefs. My chiefs have invited Labadi Beach Hotel; they have not gone,” she said.
Madam Sowah also referenced earlier disputes involving areas such as Wooden Estate and Laboma, questioning the circumstances surrounding the latest demolition at the La Pleasure Beach.
The MP is calling for clarity over who authorised the exercise and why affected residents and traditional authorities were not adequately engaged before the demolition began.
