Abdul Rahman Ashitey, addressing the press
The management of La Pleasure Beach Resort has called on President John Mahama to intervene in the attempted demolition of the structures at the beachfront.
Speaking at a press engagement, the Beach Management Committee and stakeholders of La represented by …. said bar owners at the beach received reports of the planned exercise about a month ago following claims of ownership by the Labadi Beach Hotel.
The Management Committee has flatly rejected the claim.
“The La Pleasure Beach Resort has been in existence since 1960, way before the hotel was established. So how can the hotel claim it as their property?” the Committee questioned.
They explained that during the establishment of Labadi Beach Hotel, the Chiefs of La extended the hotel’s fence wall beyond the Maale Stream to its current boundary as a gesture of goodwill.
“If the beachfront belongs to them, why were they seeking permission and paying rent to the Beach Management and the Traditional Council anytime they wanted to organise events at the beachfront?” they asked.
The Committee also dismissed claims by the hotel that the beachfront was acquired by government under Executive Instrument (E.I.) 10 of 1967, stating that the Trade Fair acquisition does not extend to the La beachfront.
“This is not factual but a ploy to unlawfully takeover La property,” they stressed.
They further alleged that National Security is not aware of the intended demolition and takeover.
Describing the move as a “lazy man’s approach to maximising profit,” the Committee said the hotel already has enough space and assets to generate more revenue if it thinks outside the box.
They warned that a forceful takeover would have dire economic consequences, as the La Pleasure Beach provides direct employment for over 500 workers and livelihoods for thousands of residents.
The Committee noted that La has over the years released vast lands for national development, including lands for Burma Camp, 37 Military Hospital, University of Ghana, Legon, Kotoka International Airport and the Trade Fair Centre, and appealed to the government to allow the community to retain the beach for its survival.
Threat To Demolish Polo Beach Club
Details have emerged about how Richard Jakpa, the Director of Special Operations at the National Security Council Secretariat is allegedly abusing his office to demolish the Polo Beach Club and other four beach clubs operating near the Labadi Beach Hotel.
Information available to DAILY GUIDE suggests that the hotel is using its connection with him to usurp the legal proceeding initiated by it against Polo Beach Club in respect of a piece of land on the beachfront which is a subject of litigation.
A source familiar with the matter categorically states that neither the National Security nor the government is involved in any attempts led by Mr. Jakpa to demolish the Club without any recourse to the operators of the facility and the case currently pending before the court.
Labadi Beach Hotel filed a suit against Spartan Ives, owners of Polo Beach Club on June 3, 2024, seeking for the removal of the Polo Beach Club from the beachfront on the grounds that the beachfront is a government land over which it has the right of prior consent to any structure erected on it.
Information picked up by this paper suggests that contrary to the hotel’s claim that it gave no prior consent for the building of Polo Beach Club, it was the hotel that accepted a joint venture proposal from the owners of Polo Beach Club to collaborate in organising the Club’s annual festive season events for which Polo Beach Club is locally and internationally known.
While the court is yet to go into the merit of the case, Labadi Beach Hotel has allegedly resorted to the alledged services of Mr. Jakpa to demolish the Polo Beach Club which sits on the disputed land.
According to the source, officials of Polo Beach Club were invited for a meeting at the National Security Secretariat on August 18, 2026.
The source said the meeting concluded with a promise to meet the board of directors of Labadi Beach Hotel the following week and seek “small compensation” from the hotel for the Polo Beach Club and four other beach clubs for their demolition because the exercise requested by Labadi Beach Hotel was “non-negotiable and irreversible.”
Mr. Jakpa then encouraged cooperation as any attempt to oppose the exercise or to be combative will result in demolition of Polo Beach Club and four others without any recourse to their owners.
“He did not mince words in stating that he was not bothered by any ongoing court process and that he would proceed on the basis of his findings and the urgent need for the hotel to use the land.
“He added that the drawings for the expansion were ready and President John Mahama was set to attend a ceremony to cut the sod for the beachfront construction to begin,” the source further pointed out.
Polo Beach Club immediately filed an injunction application against Labadi Beach and Mr. Jakpa the planned demolition.
Upon being served with the injunction application, soldiers went to the beachfront and entered four of the beach clubs without the consent of their owners, and the hotel’s appointed consultant conducted her valuation exercise with a message that the Polo Beach Club was the main target.
DAILY GUIDE has gathered that no official letter has been sent to the beach clubs and no formal meetings have been held, neither have they been given any opportunity to have a say in the process.
“This blatant abuse of public office must be deprecated by the President. Government appointees like Mr. Richard Jakpa do not understand the heart of President John Mahama who will not circumvent judicial process in the capricious manner being exhibited by Mr Richard Jakpa,” the source added.
A Daily Guide Report