I have seen a lot of National Democratic Congress (NDC) and government functionaries sharing the press release of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) on their walls either as a justification of the inhumane demolition of La Pleasure Beach Resort or that it extricates them from any responsibility/liability. I cannot believe my eyes.
In 2024 when this same SSNIT wanted to sell 60% of some hotels including the famous Labadi beach hotel, the NDC kicked against it. I remember the many fora, meetings and consultations that these same party bigwigs had with the people of La, the traditional leaders and the Wulomo.
I remember what they told the people of La, that the NPP wanted to sell off their prime asset, the Labadi beach lands to themselves, that the La people will lose their source of livelihood if that sale is allowed to take place. At those meetings, these NDC bigwigs impressed on the allodial owners of the land not to allow the sale to take place but do everything in their power to stop the sale. I was at the La kpa naa and manjaano consultative meetings.
Remember that the decision to sell the 60% was done by the same board of SSNIT whom we are being told today are sacrosanct.
The people of La listened to the NDC and joined them in the fight against the sale. Press conferences were held, then they joined in the demonstration. I can just recall how Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa waxed lyrically about his admiration for the late La wulomo who joined the demo, poured libations and pronounced spiritual retributions if the sale was allowed to proceed.
Today, the same people who recognised the allodial owners of the land in opposition and consulted them now say they do not matter.
Today, the same people who fought alongside them in protecting their livelihoods in opposition have obliterated these same livelihoods now that they are in power.
Today, these same people who fought against a press release and explanations from the board of SSNIT on the sale of 60% of Labadi beach are shoving a press release in our faces as if it’s the 10 Commandments.
As the MP for the area put it succinctly, we fought alongside them to protect our livelihood and local economy but they have rewarded us with an obliteration of those same livelihoods on a scale never experienced in a proper democracy.
Let me digress a little: about two weeks ago, government announced that it had suspended its programme of breaking the Agbogbloshi yam market to build a 24hr market. This is to allow for more consultations with the market folks there even when the allodial owners have okayed the project. The people of La did not deserve that same courtesy abi?
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) could have used this same modus of national security, soldiers to take over the La pleasure beach while they offload the 60% share. They did not. They retreated quickly after the uproar.
Today, what we feared most as La m3 has happened and it happened in the most crudest way ever seen and it was done with tacit approval from those we fought alongside with.
My request to the government, board of SSNIT and Labadi beach hotel:
- Show us the land documents
- Show us consultations
- Show us the notices
- Show us the legal authority
- Show us the environmental assessment
- Show us the social impact assessment
- Show us the restoration plan.
The very people we fought for and alongside with in opposition just stabbed us in the stomach while smiling at our pain.
To those justifying the crude demolition and the inhumane treatment meted out to distraught citizens, bystanders, business owners, journalists and bloggers, we say ayekoo.
To those who led the demolition, okayed the use of force without restraint, emotional intelligence and fellow feeling, we say, otsun).
To those who considered us worthy to be consulted, worthy to fight along with, worthy allodial owners in the past but worth nothing today, we say ny3yiwaladon, akpe, mpagya and y3 da moasi.
By Nii Abbey, La Maamli