A scene after the demolition
Management of La Pleasure Beach has dismissed assertions that it operated as squatters on the beachfront before the October 1, 2026 demolition exercise.
In a statement signed by management of the resort, they vehemently rejected the characterisation that they operated as squatters.
According to them, La Pleasure Beach has been operating on land lawfully acquired and has consistently operated from the location in question over the years.
“The management of La Pleasure Beach has taken note of the recent demolition of our facility and statements attributed to the management of Labadi Beach Hotel, suggesting that La Pleasure Beach is operating as squatters on the beachfront.
“We wish to categorically state that La Pleasure Beach rejects this characterisation. We are not squatters, nor have we encroached on the beachfront as alleged,” portions of the statement read.
The statement further clarified that over the years, the Labadi Beach Hotel has sought permission from the management of La Pleasure Beach to have access to the beachfront. A request they say was granted to help the hotel’s guests have access to the beach.
“If Labadi Beach Hotel’s position is that it owns the entire beachfront on which La Pleasure Beach operates, a legitimate question arises: why would the hotel repeatedly write to the management of La Pleasure Beach seeking to rent land to enable its guests to access the beach?” it queried.
The statement referenced the year 2007, when Labadi Beach Hotel wrote to La Pleasure Beach requesting access to and use of land, and the request was granted.
Similarly, in 2010, it said the hotel again approached management seeking a renewal, which was granted for a period of 10 years.
“In 2022, the hotel once again wrote to management seeking a further renewal, this time for a period of 20 years.
“These documented interactions raise serious questions about the assertion that Labadi Beach Hotel has always owned the entire beachfront area in question.
“La Pleasure Beach maintains that we have not encroached on the beachfront and that our operation cannot simply be characterised as that of squatters,” it reaffirmed.
Management mentioned that the demolition of their facility has directly affected business, employees, customers and other individuals whose livelihoods are connected to the operation.
“We, therefore, call for the relevant authorities and stakeholders to carefully examine the land documents, historical correspondence, agreements, renewals and other relevant records relating to the land in question before conclusions are reached regarding ownership or occupation,” part of the statement read.
It emphasised that disputes concerning land ownership and usage should be resolved through proper legal and administrative processes, rather than through unilateral actions that affect businesses and livelihoods.
It further re-affirmed the management’s commitment to presenting all relevant documentation to the appropriate authorities and, where necessary, pursuing the matter through the appropriate legal channels.
They reiterated that La Pleasure Beach is not a squatter operation, affirming that, “We stand by our claim to the land on which we operate and are prepared to substantiate our position with the relevant documents.”
By Prince Fiifi Yorke