Ayikoi Otoo
The GaDangme Council has condemned the recent demolition of the La Pleasure Beach Resort.
In a statement signed by its President, Ayikoi Otoo, the Council said La Pleasure Beach Resort was established by La subjects with the approval of the La Traditional Authorities and has existed from time immemorial, with many from far and near engaging in trading activities to sustain their families.
The Council expressed strong displeasure at the demolition, which it said was undertaken without adequate consultation, reasonable notice, or satisfactory arrangements to address the plight of the affected persons.
“The structures in question are not merely physical buildings. For the affected La subjects, they represent investments made over time, places of business, and essential sources of income for themselves and their dependents,” the statement read.
The demolition came ahead of the December festive season, their peak period, leaving many uncertain how to feed their families and repay loans. “We say without any fear of contradiction, that their demolition has the potential to cause considerable economic hardship, destroy livelihoods, and undermine the welfare of families who depend on these businesses for their survival,” the Council stated.
Calls For Compensation
The Council is therefore calling on government to compensate affected traders and facilitate their immediate return to business by urgently: facilitating the immediate return of the affected La subjects to their trading activities at the Labadi Pleasure Beach, subject to an agreed and lawful arrangement; opening urgent consultations among government, National Security, relevant public authorities, the La Traditional authorities, and the affected traders; identifying a sustainable arrangement that will enable affected persons to resume business while respecting planning, environmental and public-safety requirements; as well as fair consideration of losses suffered, including appropriate remedial measures and compensation.
“The affected persons are members of the La community whose ability to earn a living has reportedly been seriously disrupted. They deserve to be heard, treated fairly, and given a reasonable opportunity to restore their livelihoods. We accordingly appeal to His Excellency the President and the appropriate state authorities to take urgent steps to resolve this matter,” the statement added.
The demolition, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, October 2, at about 3 a.m. to 4 a.m., was carried out by soldiers of the 48 Engineer Regiment with support from the Ghana Police Service and National Security, reportedly at the request of Social Security and National Insurance Trust Fund (SSNIT) which owns Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Resort.
Many traders said they received no notice of the exact date, while others who received a two-week warning did not believe it would be enforced. They were forced to scramble in the dark to salvage belongings as excavators pulled down every table, stall, shed and multi-storey building.
Traders lost refrigerators, cooking utensils, furniture, stock and equipment. One operator, Princess Wala Company which employed over 70 workers, said she lost over GH¢1 million and has loans to repay.
Another CEO, No. 1 Spot, said his over $1 million investment built over 40 years was destroyed, including items packed outside for safety. Madam Billy Jean, known as Queen of Africa, lost her three-storey restaurant and bar built with a permit from La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly.
The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) says 85 businesses and about 4,000 jobs, largely held by women in food vending, general trading and arts and crafts, have been put at risk.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke