A scene from the Laboma Beach demolition
GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES on September 13, 2026, began a major demolition exercise at Laboma Beach in Accra to clear unauthorised structures within the protected buffer zone of the Kpeshie Lagoon.
The exercise, carried out by the Post-Flood Mitigating Task Force, the Ghana Armed Forces, and local police, is aimed at restoring the natural water flow of the lagoon as well as curbing severe flooding in the capital.
But management of Laboma Beach Resort has rejected claims that the facility is responsible for flooding in Accra.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the paper, Business Development Manager, Nee Lante Bruce, said there is no independent scientific hydrological study linking Laboma Beach to the floods. “We don’t think it’s because of Laboma. There is no independent scientific hydrological study that has established that,” he said.
Mr. Bruce accused authorities of pushing a narrative to make Laboma a scapegoat. “You push the narrative because you want a scapegoat and say Laboma is responsible,” he stated.
He said management was given only a one-day notice before the demolition, despite writing a petition to the President and engaging government on the matter. “We wrote a petition to the President and tried to engage government. We are not against flood control; we are not against environmental protection. That will be in our interest,” he explained.
According to him, the resort had plans to construct a modern bridge to improve water flow and had shared designs of the intended project. “We actually shared pictures of what we intended to do. It was to construct a modern bridge and beautify the area. This is a tourist attraction,” he said.
Mr. Bruce lamented the scale of investment and jobs lost to the demolition. “We are by far the biggest and most developed beach resort in the country. We have employed so many people – guards, cleaners and others. People’s livelihoods have been lost. Thousands, millions, if not billions, have been invested here,” he said.
He revealed that management had commissioned an independent hydrological study of the entire area and had been in contact with authorities on the way forward. “We had approached government and written a petition indicating we had commissioned an independent hydrological assessment. We were in close contact with authorities. They told us what to do. We brought in machines and spent a lot of money to do dredging,” he said.
He stressed that what was needed was a scientific approach, not overnight demolitions. “Just imagine if government had conducted a hydrological study and the findings were published that indeed some buildings in Laboma were impeding water flow and had to go. Do you think we would have a problem? You do stakeholder engagement. You don’t wake up overnight and destroy people’s lives. This is very sad,” he added.
Mr. Bruce also questioned claims by the 48 Engineer Regiment that the exercise was not political. “Is he not a politician? Did the 48 Engineer Regiment just get up on their own to come and demolish buildings?” he quizzed.
He further disputed claims that Laboma was not permitted to put up concrete structures. “If we were not allowed to put up concrete structures, how did we finish those structures and the government regulatory bodies found it expedient to come and collect taxes? Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has its staff here daily collecting taxes,” he argued.
According to him, management had planned a press conference to inform the public but was asked to hold on because behind-the-scenes discussions were ongoing. “We wanted to do a press conference to let the public know exactly what was happening. We were asked to hold on, not to inflame passions, that discussions were ongoing. Only for you to come in the middle of the night like thieves to do this to people. It’s unconscionable,” he said.
Mr. Bruce described the exercise as inhumane, noting that structures far from the lagoon, including a hospital facility, were also destroyed. “It’s inhumane because if you destroy a hospital, a hospital which is very far away from the lagoon – you’ve seen where the lagoon is located. If you want to do a buffer, maximum 50 meters should be okay,” he said.
“What they did was unconscionable. They destroyed about 12 to 16 completed storey buildings,” he added.
According to him, the demolition team went beyond its mandate and continued destroying property even after their commander had ordered them to stop. “They were destroying things they were not even supposed to destroy. Their commander had asked them to stop, but they were still demolishing. They were given an order to stop at dwarf walls, but walls that had nothing to do with the lagoon, those dwarf walls towards the side, were still demolished,” he alleged. He accused the team of acting with an agenda.
“They were using hoodlums to just run through. Even a small ticketing office, they destroyed. The guy just wanted to destroy. It’s like somebody came here with an agenda just to cause mayhem. It’s pure evil,” he said.
Mr. Bruce said management is waiting to see what happens next. “It’s early days. We’ll let you know what happens. We live to see. As the days go by, whatever has happened, we will know. But we are waiting,” he said.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke